Atlas Copco on future factories

As part of our deep dive into how industrial transformation is really playing out on the ground, we wanted to hear directly from those leading the change. We sat down with Atlas Copco and General Manager James McAllister to unpack what industrial transformation really looks like on the factory floor – and how automation, data and digital tools are reshaping decision-making from the shop floor to the boardroom. 

James answers two questions: 
1. In your UK operations, how have automation and data most visibly changed work on the floor – and what hasn’t really changed at all? 

Automation and data are transforming daily life on the factory floor. Rising labour costs and skills shortages have accelerated investment in AI, automation, and digital technologies, with 60% of UK manufacturers increasing digital spend to improve uptime, quality, and resilience through real-time data. The most profound shift isn't just technological – it's behavioural. Smart factories rely on operators who can interpret data, manage automated systems, and act on machine-generated insights, enabling faster, better-informed decisions.

What hasn’t changed are core production principles: quality, safety, and repeatability. Smart manufacturing doesn’t replace people – it augments them, combining automation with human judgement, adaptability, and problem-solving.

2. When you roll out new technologies, how do you involve operators and engineers so that they feel ownership of the change rather than having it imposed on them?

Successful technology adoption relies on people understanding, trusting, and shaping the tools they use – especially as digital skills gaps widen. 

Co-creation from pilot stage: Rollouts that start small, gather operator input, and scale once real benefits are proven build stronger buy-in. Workers adopt new systems more readily when they help define what 'success' looks like.
Upskilling as a strategic priority: Upskilling is no longer a luxury. Organisations must invest in training and strengthen links with academia, as demonstrated by Atlas Copco and University College Birmingham's industry-accredited training pathway for UK battery manufacturing.

Making human centred technologies such as operator guidance systems and error proofing software that empower operators with real time data, reinforcing that technology supports, rather than replaces, people.