Why the latest data from the International Centre for Industrial Transformation should change how you lead industrial change.
The journey toward digital transformation for manufacturers in the UK has never been more urgent—or more complex. The recently released Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI) white paper offers a data-driven roadmap for manufacturers determined to future-proof their operations, and seize the opportunities of Industry X.0.
Navigating the Digital Transformation Challenge
Manufacturers worldwide are grappling with a volatile environment: supply chain disruptions, economic tensions, climate imperatives, and relentless technological change. In this landscape, digital transformation isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a necessity for survival and growth. Yet, many businesses find themselves stuck between ambition and execution. The scale and complexity of change, coupled with resource constraints and a rapidly evolving technology landscape, create significant barriers.
Enter SIRI: The Smart Industry Readiness Index
The Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI) is designed to cut through this complexity. Developed as the world’s first independent digital maturity assessment toolkit for manufacturers, SIRI provides a comprehensive, impartial framework to evaluate digital readiness across three core building blocks: Process, Technology, and Organisation. Within these, SIRI assesses 16 critical dimensions, from shop floor automation and enterprise connectivity to workforce learning and leadership competency.
What sets SIRI apart is its global benchmarking capability. With thousands of assessments conducted across more than 60 countries, SIRI allows manufacturers to compare their digital maturity with industry peers locally and worldwide. This benchmarking is more than a vanity metric—it’s a powerful tool for identifying gaps, prioritising investments, and tracking progress over time.
From Assessment to Action: The SIRI Approach
A SIRI assessment is more than a diagnostic exercise. It provides manufacturers with:
- A clear snapshot of current digital maturity across all 16 dimensions.
- Benchmarking against industry peers, highlighting strengths and areas for improvement.
- A prioritised roadmap for transformation, tailored to the company’s cost profile and strategic objectives.
- Actionable insights that support both operational optimisation and long-term strategic planning.
The process is robust yet practical, balancing technical rigor with real-world applicability. SIRI is not an audit – Certified SIRI Assessors guide companies through the assessment, ensuring that findings translate into sustainable, value-adding initiatives—not just theoretical recommendations.
Tangible Benefits for Manufacturers
The 2025 report contains some compelling case studies from leading manufacturers who have leveraged SIRI to drive measurable improvements. For example, Viessmann used SIRI to identify gaps in field automation and connectivity, leading to targeted investments that boosted production efficiency, reduced defect rates, and cut operational costs. PT. Akebono Brake Astra (Indonesia) harnessed SIRI to advance horizontal integration and automation, achieving significant inventory reduction, productivity gains, and energy savings.
Across these examples, common benefits emerge: increased agility, enhanced workforce skills, improved product quality, and stronger market positioning. Importantly, SIRI helps companies align digital initiatives with essential business objectives—whether that’s reducing time-to-market, achieving sustainability targets, or responding to customer demands with greater speed and precision.
Bridging the Digital Divide
The report also reveals a widening gap between digital leaders and laggards. While multinational corporations (MNCs) often lead in maturity, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can close the gap by focusing on foundational areas such as connectivity, workforce development, and leadership. SIRI provides a structured pathway for all manufacturers—regardless of size or sector—to progress from basic digital practices to integrated, intelligent operations.
A Call to Action: Don’t Get Left Behind
As digitalisation becomes the new baseline for competitiveness, the imperative for manufacturers is clear: act now, or risk being outpaced. SIRI offers a proven, globally recognised framework to guide your transformation journey—one that is grounded in data, tailored to your business, and aligned with best practices from around the world.
Here are four quick takeaways to consider for your business now:
- Find out where you stand. The very best manufacturers, the top 10% – score nearly three times as highly as the bottom 10%. Most manufacturers sit in the “broad middle” – but as the gap between the best-in-class and bottom performers is growing, you need to decide which direction your business is moving in.
- Focus on a small number of key priorities. Manufacturers that gain the highest returns act on a small number of targeted improvement initiatives. They are not trying to “boil the ocean” and fix everything at once. Prioritise two or three opportunities that directly impact operations.
- Don’t focus on the technology. The highest performing manufacturers invest in building capabilities (people and training), cross-organisation alignment, and leadership. Many manufacturers are still making the mistake of focussing on a particular solution, technology or software platform – instead, use a tool like SIRI to take a holistic view.
- Benchmarking is most powerful when you keep using it. Ongoing review helps to build and maintain momentum. The most successful organisations revisit and revise strategy and priorities, using tools like SIRI to track progress. Making this an organisational habit helps guide progress, and identify when there is a need to correct course.
The next step is simple:
Arrange a SIRI assessment for your facility. Gain an objective understanding of where you stand, discover where you can make the biggest impact, and build a roadmap that positions your business for sustainable success in the era of Industry 4.0.
Don’t let your digital transformation be a missed opportunity. Start simply – find out where you stand, define where you want to be, and identify your top 2-3 priorities.
Additional Information:
To download a copy of the Siri 2025 WhitePaper, visit https://www.intelligentapplication.co.uk/downloads
To find out more and talk with a local Certified SIRI Assessor – click here to book a short call with Paul Hatchett.