Students and graduates from Manchester Metropolitan University are helping North West manufacturers adopt AI, automation and digital manufacturing tools through Made Smarter’s Digital Internship Programme.
The paid three-month placements enable SME manufacturers to test advanced digital technologies in a practical, low-risk way, while giving students hands-on experience inside live engineering and production environments.
The internships are funded by Made Smarter North West, a government-backed adoption programme.
Among them is Digital Design and Manufacturing graduate Kian Tavakoli, who worked with Lancashire furniture manufacturer Fleming Howland to digitise traditional upholstery patterns and streamline CAD-to-CNC workflows.
Kian said: “The internship helped me grow technically and professionally, but it also showed how digital change works best when it’s done with people, not to them.”
In Stockport, Manchester Metropolitan University data science student Deniz Beyazgul supported Arden Dies in exploring practical AI applications within manufacturing operations, analysing workflows and identifying automation opportunities to improve performance and quality.
Deniz said: “The placement helped teams better understand AI and how it could be integrated into everyday workflows. We were able to analyse and automate processes and identify real opportunities to improve performance and quality.”
Over the past year, Made Smarter North West’s latest cohort of 18 interns have worked directly on factory floors and in engineering teams, applying a wide range of digital technologies to real production challenges. These include robotics and automation, artificial intelligence, data and analytics, CNC and CAD-to-CNC workflows, virtual reality and digital twins, system integration and wider workflow digitisation.
Donna Edwards, Programme Director for Made Smarter North West, said: “These digital internships are delivering exactly what manufacturers need, practical digital skills and fresh thinking, while giving students and graduates paid, hands-on experience on real industrial projects, and a direct stepping stone into employment.”
Since its inception in 2019, Made Smarter has supported over 2,500 manufacturers across the North West, providing access to expert digital advice, technology adoption roadmaps, skills development opportunities, and funded technology projects.
Find out more about the Digital Internship programme and read the recent white paper, visit:
madesmarter.uk/adoption/
