How UKIVA is Driving Innovation in Smart Manufacturing

The UK Industrial Vision Association (UKIVA) has a vital role to play in the promotion of innovation within the smart manufacturing process. Focusing specifically on the integration of image processing technology, the trade body aims to give UK manufacturers a competitive edge in the fast-paced digital age. Here, we’ll take a deeper look into UKIVA’s contribution and highlight the benefits realised by members who develop and adopt smart manufacturing solutions.

Smart Manufacturing Trends

Increased levels of technological innovation have fuelled transformation of the UK’s manufacturing sector over recent years. This has been most apparent in the development and integration of IIoT, AI, and machine vision technologies. These technologies have significantly enhanced the levels of efficiency, competitiveness, and sustainability. We expect to see the wider realisation of such benefits, with the PwC’s 2024 Industry 4.0 report predicting that the UK’s smart manufacturing market will grow at a CAGR of 8.9% over the next five years.

The growth of smart manufacturing is likely to involve the wider adoption of AI, IIoT, robotics, and automated technologies. Positive impacts on everything from operational effectiveness to product quality are sure to benefit the UK’s manufacturers as they look to compete with advanced international rivals.

Other benefits of smart manufacturing include:

• Reduced risks of rework and recalls, which might otherwise be caused by human error
• Enhanced data collection, enabling the identification and fixing of production line issues
• Increased flexibility and scalability for the satisfaction of customer demands
• Improved sustainability, with more efficient resource use and waste reduction
• Greater workplace safety, with the automation of jobs in the dull, dangerous, and dirty category making for greater staff satisfaction and retention.

The development of AI is expected to have a particularly significant impact on the demand and integration of machine vision systems. Indeed, a study from ABI Research has forecast that the quality control machine vision market will grow by more than 210%, reaching US$7.2bn in 2028. This prediction has been linked with the acceleration of inspections and upstream movement of quality through AI integration.

UKIVA’s Contribution

As mentioned, the UKIVA has a pivotal role to play as a leading voice in the promotion of smart technologies. This is achieved partly through seminars and conferences, with UKIVA also sharing technical information on the gains that can be made with advanced vision systems. They also work in close collaboration with BARA (British Automation & Robot Association), promoting the development of vision-enabled robotics. UKIVA members are given regular networking opportunities for the sharing of knowledge and the development of transformative partnerships.

Given the range of benefits, it’s perhaps unsurprising that UKIVA has seen an increase in membership over the past year. This reflects the growing interest in smart manufacturing technologies among UK businesses, with numerous UKIVA members seeing positive results in the adoption of smart manufacturing solutions.

A range of examples were showcased as part of the recent Machine Vision Conference 2024, which ran alongside the Automation UK exhibition at Coventry’s Building Society Arena. For instance, Cognex exhibited its new In-Sight 3800 camera - impressing visitors with the ability to classify items, track barcodes and read text at astonishing speed. And SICK announced the expansion of its extensive machine vision range with the NOVA-powered smart camera. Featuring a user-friendly web interface and AI capabilities, this advanced camera can handle a range of challenging applications with speed and ease.

Having been rebranded as Vision UK, the UK’s leading machine event will return to Coventry’s CBS Arena from the 7th to the 8th of May 2025. This will provide visitors with the opportunity to explore the latest industrial machine vision solutions offered by many of the UK’s leading developers. Prospective attendees can register their interest on the Automation UK website, with more information promised once registration is live.

In the meantime, we encourage future-focused businesses to visit the Automate UK website and explore UKIVA’s resources. And do remember that you can always get in touch for expert advice on smart manufacturing technologies.