The event, AI and Optimisation in Manufacturing: From Theory to Practice, highlighted how research-led approaches can support businesses in improving production planning, operational performance and decision-making.
Delivered in collaboration with SupplyVue, the showcase centred on the Innovate UK-funded Accelerate CarbonVue Digital Platform project, demonstrating how advanced analytics, optimisation and AI can be translated into practical tools for industry.
Attendees from organisations including Jaguar Land Rover, McCormick & Company, Saint-Gobain, Elisa Industriq and the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) joined the discussion, reflecting strong industry interest in applying data-driven approaches to complex operational challenges.
From research to operational impact
The session explored how UK SCALE’s research capability is helping businesses move beyond descriptive data towards actionable decision support.
Academic presentations demonstrated how optimisation models can improve production scheduling, reduce inefficiencies and support better resource utilisation in complex manufacturing environments. In parallel, AI-based approaches are enabling organisations to better understand the root causes of performance issues and identify targeted improvements.
Speaking at the event, Dr Grammatoula Papaioannou, Senior Lecturer in Business Analytics, said:
“Our work focuses on developing advanced optimisation models for operations and production planning that reflect real manufacturing decisions, specifications, and goals that enable better decision-making.
By integrating advanced analytics with real-world operational requirements, we can help organisations improve their performance and become more efficient by making fact-based decisions across their production systems.”
The research showcased how combining optimisation techniques with AI-driven decision support can help organisations address key industry challenges, including production variability, resource coordination and performance gaps.
