Challenge 

To investigate, devise and develop a technology roadmap for adoption of digital ways of working at a material handling company, establishing a paperless working environment for standardisation and control. 

Background

Granada Cranes is the UK’s largest independent crane company. It designs and manufactures onshore, offshore and overhead cranes, and provides maintenance support after installation.

It was selected for the Accelerating Decarbonisation and Productivity through Technology and Skills (ADAPTS) programme funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF), which is a central pillar of the UK government’s ambitious levelling up agenda and a significant component of its support for places across the UK. ADAPTS supports Flintshire manufacturers with unparalleled access to advanced manufacturing technology, knowledge transfer, training and upskilling in digital and decarbonisation strategies.

Most processes at Granada Cranes rely on paper copies of documents, which makes it difficult to standardise and control document versions. As part of the project, AMRC Cymru explored how the business could adopt and implement technology to move towards a paperless working environment.

Innovation

Technology roadmaps help businesses adopt technology to their working environment. However, it is essential to verify the necessity to implement a technology, its benefits and possible alternatives. 

With guidance from an established methodology from the Institute for Manufacturing (IfM) Education and Consultancy Services, AMRC Cymru ran various tasks with Granada Cranes to answer questions that would help validate the need for new digital technologies and form the basis for a technology roadmap. Some questions were - 

• Why does the team at Granada Cranes want to change its way of working?
• What solutions are needed within the business right now?
• What will help or hinder the team from achieving its goals?
• Would the technology support any of the solutions highlighted?

While developing a technology roadmap, it was crucial that employees from all levels of the business were encouraged to provide their input, enabling higher acceptance for the potential change that would happen in the business following the implementation of a roadmap. 

The questions laid out by AMRC Cymru were answered during site visits to Granada Crane’s  production facility in Hawarden and a workshop held at the AMRC Cymru where the employees could input their ideas into the project - fostering an inclusive approach. 

Result 

The idea of investigating and developing a roadmap was well received by Granada Cranes as it enabled documentation of everyone’s ideas into a clear and concise format. The result of the project led to the creation of a thorough technology roadmap, highlighting potential improvements to internal processes and where new technology could support these improvements, if appropriate. 

Impact 

The roadmap has prepared Granada Cranes to be able to adopt new digital ways of working. The technology roadmap has been created such that it can be presented to any level of the business to provide direction in implementing a positive change throughout the business. 

In particular, the roadmap will provide invaluable benefit in facilitating knowledge transfer and idea sharing for a recent knowledge transfer partnership (KTP) between AMRC Cymru and Granada Cranes that commenced in March 2024.

The project also showcased AMRC Cymru’s capability to deliver strategic manufacturing guidance. This included undertaking various forms of engagement to understand the business’ core challenges and potential for technology integration, as well as providing businesses with a strategic plan to become more efficient and resilient in their operations.