AFD Systems Accelerates Digital Transformation with Made Smarter Funding

AFD Systems, head-quartered in Lancashire, has accessed Made Smarter funding to accelerate digital transformation for advanced engineering and manufacturing. 

Innovation isn’t just about staying ahead, it’s about shaping the future of aerospace engineering, and over the past two years, that belief has been brought to life through our partnership with Made Smarter, a collaboration that has helped us unlock new digital capabilities, enter new markets, and rapidly scale our operations.  

As we continue to evolve our brand and develop our business, we’re proud to share how Made Smarter has supported our journey and how, together, we are redefining what’s possible for engineering and manufacturing in the UK.   

Prior to engaging with Made Smarter our team already had deep technical expertise and a growing portfolio in systems integration, airframe engineering and additive manufacturing but we recognised a critical opportunity: to integrate advanced 3D scanning technology to join up our design, simulation, and manufacturing processes.  

With support from Made Smarter and a £20,000 technology adoption grant we invested in a high-precision 3D laser scanner, capable of capturing geometrical data in fine detail at both component level through to full aircraft surveys. 

Garry Sellick, Additive Manufacturing Manager, said: 

“At the start of the programme our manufacturing division was at its infancy; with minimal equipment and capability. Reverse engineering projects began to trickle through but we could only capture data using old-school hand-measurements. For complex geometry and critical surfaces, we had to find a better way and it became clear we needed a scanning system. That’s when the opportunity came up to integrate 3D scanning technology to support our growing ambitions. 

“This was more than an equipment purchase it was the catalyst behind our establishment of a dedicated metrology and reverse engineering team that has continued to invest in the latest software and technology, including a Hexagon measuring arm (CMM). 

Jerrod Hartley, CEO, remarked 

“Our work with Made Smarter has helped accelerate digital transformation across the whole business which has tripled in size Since 2022, AFD Systems has grown from a small operation to a dynamic team of over 30 specialists, with plans to expand by a further 20 new engineering apprentices, graduates and experts in the next two years.  

“Digital workflows have enabled AFD to produce hundreds of parts each year, with a strategic target of more than 1,500 annually over the next five years. To develop a highly skilled and digitally enabled workforce we’ve taken on apprentices and upskilled a dedicated team within our manufacturing division, supporting our mission to address the aerospace skills gap by ‘growing our own’.

As AFD pushes into new markets and develops its own future product lines, the foundations laid-down with Made Smarter will continue to fuel momentum and enable further growth. 

The important thing to remember is that digital transformation isn’t a single milestone it is an ongoing journey, and with Made Smarter as a strategic partner, AFD Systems is proud to be at the forefront of innovation in the UK aerospace supply chain.