SMAS Lean Experience Factory and learning journey, Italy: EOI

Scottish Enterprise and SMAS invite you to an exclusive three-day immersive learning experience at Italy’s world-renowned LEF. PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS EXPRESSION OF INTEREST ONLY! THIS IS A 3 DAY PROGRAMME FROM TUESDAY 27TH OCTOBER 2026 TO THURSDAY 29TH OCTOBER 2026 (MONDAY 26TH OCTOBER - TRAVEL DAY) Join SMAS for an in-person event Join SMAS for a hands-on journey designed to transform your manufacturing operations. You’ll learn how to help your business maximise productivity through the combined application of Lean, robotics, automation, and digital technologies. Maximising productivity gains requires more than Lean transformation alone. By integrating robotics, automation and digital tools effectively, your business can unlock full return on investment, improve decision-making and build more resilient, future-ready operations. This is exactly what the SMAS Lean Experience Factory (LEF) is designed to show. Scottish Enterprise, through SMAS, invites you to an exclusive three-day immersive learning journey at the world-renowned LEF in Italy. About the Lean Experience Factory (LEF) The LEF is the world’s largest and most integrated digital model company, offering hands-on, experiential training in Lean and digital transformation. Located in San Vito al Tagliamento, Italy, LEF is a joint venture between McKinsey & Company and Confindustria Alto Adriatico. It’s part of McKinsey’s global network of Digital Capability Centres. Building on last year’s successful learning journey, SMAS is planning a further visit to the LEF later this year, offering another opportunity for Scottish manufacturers to experience transformation in practice. The LEF environment brings transformation to life. You’ll see what works, why it works, and how it can be applied within your own business. Across the three-day learning journey, you’ll develop a clear and practical understanding of how to improve productivity and performance: • Day one focuses on Lean within a realistic, inefficient factory environment. You’ll identify waste, understand root causes and explore opportunities for improvement in a hands-on way. • Day two builds on this by demonstrating what good looks like, introducing LEF’s digital factory. It will show how robotics, automation and AI enhance productivity, flexibility and decision-making. • Day three provides the opportunity to visit companies that have worked with LEF. You’ll gain insight into how these approaches have been applied in practice and the impact they have delivered. In partnership with LEF, SMAS has designed this programme for Scottish manufacturers looking to modernise operations and build workforce capability. You’ll learn how to take practical steps towards Industry 4.0 with a clear focus on application and results. What you’ll gain Through the programme, you’ll: • Identify practical opportunities to improve productivity within yourown operations • Understand how Lean and digital approaches work together to deliver measurable results • Build confidence to make informed investment decisions around robotics, automation and wider technologies • Learn from real business examples and experienced practitioners • Develop a clear, actionable outline for your own transformation journey You’ll return with the insight and confidence to take your own plans forward, align teams and justify future investment. With ongoing support from Scottish Enterprise, you’ll translate your learning into action. Who should attend? This learning journey is designed for senior leaders and decision-makers within Scottish manufacturing who are: • Making or influencing capital investment decisions, particularly in robotics, automation and digital technologies • Responsible for improving productivity and operational performance across manufacturing operations • Looking to de-risk investment decisions by understanding what works in practice before committing resource • Leading or planning transformation activity, including Lean and technology-enabled improvement • Seeking to build a clear business case for future investment and secure organisational buy-in. Investment and Value This programme is designed to offer high-impact learning to help you apply sustainable change within your business. Your investment is your time and £1,300 + VAT per person. This includes: • Three nights’ accommodation near the Lean Experience Factory • All breakfast, lunches and two networking dinners, including a Lean cooking night • Daily private transfers between the hotel and LEF You’ll need to arrange your own travel to and from Italy. You should arrive on the confirmed start date and depart after the programme ends. To support peer learning, places are limited to 12 to 15 participants (a maximum of two per company). Please note: You’ll need to arrange your own travel to and from Italy, arriving on Monday 26 October, and are free to depart after the programme ends on Thursday 29 October 2026. If you have any queries please get in touch with Ashley Gibson - [email protected]. Upon payment, places will be confirmed after a suitability discussion with your SMAS regional contact, and a full refund will be issued if the booking does not proceed. 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