Duncan McFarlane | Digital Thread Podcast | Momenta

Welcome to episode 226 of our Momenta Digital Thread podcast series. We are delighted to be joined by Duncan McFarlane, Professor of Industrial Information Engineering at the University of Cambridge and the Shoestring Digital Manufacturing program lead.

About Duncan McFarlane: Duncan, a fellow at St John's College and head of the Distributed Information & Automation Laboratory at the Institute for Manufacturing, is a seasoned professional in developing manufacturing automation and control systems, with a career spanning roles at BHP and the University of Cambridge, where he became a Professor of Industrial Information Engineering. At Cambridge, Duncan co-led industry initiatives such as the Auto-ID Center and, most recently, the Digital Manufacturing on a Shoestring program. Notably, he received the RAE Presidents Award for providing Industrial Engineering support to local hospitals during the Covid-19 epidemic. Duncan is also the Co-Founder and Chairman of RedBite Solutions, specializing in industrial RFID and track & trace solutions.

Unique Insights: This episode explores Duncan's background and what inspired his career switch to becoming a professor after spending 14 years at BHP. It also discusses the inspiration behind creating the Digital Manufacturing on a Shoestring program, which empowers SMEs to understand, deploy and maintain business-improving solutions using low-cost technologies.

Tune in to this episode of The Digital Thread to learn about the evolution of Industrial Information from an authentic leader across key manufacturing initiatives!

 Discussion Points:

• Your Digital Thread: What would you consider your digital thread (the one or more thematic threads that define your digital industry journey)?
   
• Career Transition: Given your 14 years of work with BHP, what ultimately inspired you to begin teaching?
  
  
• Industrial Engineering Appeal: You are a Professor of Industrial Information Engineering at Cambridge University. Can you tell us what attracted you to this field of study and how it differentiates from the more traditional industrial or information sciences?
  
  
• Evolution of Industrial Information: How have you seen the subject of Industrial Information change during your tenure, and what are your students' key areas of interest today?
  
  
• Leadership Highlights: You've been an active leader in several key manufacturing initiatives, from Auto-ID to the Centre for Smart Infrastructure and Construction to the Smarter Connected Factories Centre. Of what are you most proud of across these efforts?
  
  
• Shoestring Initiative: Your most recent initiative is Digital Manufacturing on a Shoestring, investigating how low-cost, readily available digital technologies can be implemented to support growth and productivity in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). What inspired you to create this initiative?

• Program Structure: How is the Shoestring program organized, and how do SMEs participate?

• Notable Results: What have been some of the notable results, and what has surprised you the most about the program's impact?

• Looking Ahead: How are you looking to scale this program?

• Inspiration Source: In closing, where do you find your inspiration? (i.e., book recommendations, articles, podcasts, people, etc.)