This document discusses the development of a Digital Readiness Level (DRL) model by the H S S M I institute. The DRL aims to provide a consistent measure of digital preparedness for UK manufacturers. It identifies six key capabilities (business case, technical, data, leadership, people, integration) and competencies within each. The DRL will be structured similar to other readiness levels and provide a concise assessment. HSSMI is working with industry partners to further develop and test the DRL model and capabilities.

1. H S S M I © 2 0 1 6
Digital Readiness Level (DRL)

2. Collaborate. Innovate. Deploy.
Our
Mission
As an independent institute, we collaborate
with manufacturers, other academic
institutes and solution providers to
deploy innovative technologies,
tools and methods to support
the manufacturing
sector.
Our
Vision
To lead in providing
outstanding value and
knowledge for sustainable
manufacturing

3. Collaborate. Innovate. Deploy.
Our Members & Stakeholders
OEMs
Universities
Solution
Providers

4. Collaborate. Innovate. Deploy.
Virtual
Engineering
Data Analytics for
Resource Efficiency
Circular
Value Chains
Manufacturing
New Technologies

5. Collaborate. Innovate. Deploy.
How has we the concept developed?
TO DATE:
• Talked to stakeholders, both industrial and academic
• Held a workshop through the Digital Engineering and Test Centre Programme
(DETC)
• Refined through contact and internal workshops
• Engagement with the Digital Catapult (Manufacturing is a key work stream)
NEXT:
• Create a wider steering group
• Gain greater support and mass
• Feedback loop
• Qualitative testing of the model

6. Collaborate. Innovate. Deploy.
Digital Readiness Level (for manufacturing)
Vision:
• To provide UK Manufacturing with a consistent
technology and process based measure to assess the
digital preparedness of a company or production facility
• A design a measure that is widely applied and utilised
based on sound research and experience
• A measure that challenges toward the best, irrespective
of size (or sector), and delivers with a fast pace of change

7. Collaborate. Innovate. Deploy.
Digital Readiness Level (for manufacturing)
Objectives:
1. To give context to the Industry 4.0, Factory of the Future, Digital
Manufacturing landscape to a wide range of manufacturing businesses
2. To create a clear platform for communication – digital needs
consistency of language and style to be understood, discussed,
interpreted, developed and deployed
3. To identify value from digital in manufacturing – focus to deliver the
productivity and process improvements of up to 20 per cent
generically discussed
4. To be seen in the same capacity as Technology Readiness Level (TRL)
and Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL)

8. Collaborate. Innovate. Deploy.
How might the model work
The model will focus on a manufacturers:
A. Capabilities – Are the core capabilities needed to support Digital Readiness
present?
B. Competencies – Are certain competencies demonstrated under each
capability as evidence to support that capability?
C. Evaluators – A set of questions to assess competencies
Delivering a summary – a concise, key phrase development of each stage of
Digital Readiness Level (DRL)

9. Collaborate. Innovate. Deploy.
Capabilities
In its work so far HSSMI has identified six capabilities that combine to develop a platform for
Digital Readiness, these are:
1. Development of the business case process
2. Technical capability technical
3. Data management technical
4. Leadership process
5. People process and technical
6. Systems integration technical
These are a balance of process and technical – we need to assess to ensure we have got this
balance right

10. Collaborate. Innovate. Deploy.
Competencies
4. Leadership
A. Strategic direction
B. Partnerships for development
5. People
A. Skills and upskilling
B. Culture
6. Systems Integration
A. Supplier engagement
B. Customer engagement
C. Internal integration management
1. Development of the Digital business case
A. Identifying value from Digital
B. Commercialising benefits of Digital
2. Technical capability
A. Development and testing tools (virtual)
B. Equipment infrastructure (physical)
3. Data Management
A. Data usage strategy
B. Ownership and control of data
Within each of the capabilities two or three competencies have been identified to support the capability:

11. Collaborate. Innovate. Deploy.
Developing DRL
Through or work at the Advanced
Propulsion Centre Digital Spoke
we have a set of inputs that will
help HSSMI define the
competences and question sets
for Digital Readiness Level

12. Collaborate. Innovate. Deploy.
A progressive and parallel change in attitude
1. Development of the business case
2. Technical capability
3. Data management
4. Leadership
5. People
6. Systems integration
1 2 3 4
Readiness
levels are
based on
business
challenges
and can be
used to
highlight and
action issues
horizontally,
they are not
system or
vertical
based
system
approached
Awareness of
machine data
Full machine
connectivity
All resources
linked
Machine and
assets connected
External use of RFID
track & trace
Links to Suppliers
in place
Prognostic
maintenance

13. Collaborate. Innovate. Deploy.
Examples of Value - People and Data Management
 New skills (IT, programming,
Virtual tools)
 New ways of working –
Collaboration internally and
externally
Companies to be attractive to new
employees from other sectors
 Data sharing between various
departments
 Data sharing with the supply chain
New approach to data protection whilst
still maintaining confidentiality and IP
security
 Value of data / information becomes
more important
 “Data only” companies will enter
manufacturing

14. Collaborate. Innovate. Deploy.
Examples - stretching the Technical Capabilities for Digital
 Level 1: Data capture – Capture of data related to machines,
production performance, facilities and operator across the
value chain
 Level 2: Connectivity and visualisation – Connect the relevant
data to create a “single source of truth” / digitally map the
production processes with the digital representation
 Level 3: Interpretation – big data, data analytics for production
planning, maintenance, training
 Level 4: Pre-emptive decision making / new business
opportunities – production scheduling, “self-healing” or self-
maintaining system, …

15. 15
Comparison of dimensions
Non technical dimensions
Strategy and organisation
• Strategy
• Investments
• Innovation management
Employees
• Employees skill set
• Skill acquisition
Leadership
• Strategic direction
• Partnerships
People
• Skills and upskilling
• Culture
Development of the business case
• Identifying value of digital
• Commercialising benefits of digital
I4.0 readiness model Digital readiness model

16. 16
Comparison of dimensions
Technology dimensions
Smart factory
• Digital modelling
• Equipment infrastructure
• Data usage
• IT systems
Smart products
• ICT add-on
functionalities
• Data analytics in usage
phase
Technical dimension
• Development and Testing
• Tools and Technology
Data management
• Usage of Data
• Ownership and Control
System integration
• Supply chain engagement
• Customer engagement
• Internal integration
I4.0 readiness model
Digital readiness model
Data-driven services
• Data driven services
• Shares of revenue
• Share of data used
Smart operations
• Cloud usage
• IT security
• Autonomous processes
• Information sharing

17. Collaborate. Innovate. Deploy.
simon.barnes@hssmi.org