Here’s Why Manufacturers Are Signing Up for the PRISM Programme Workshops
[It’s not too late to join the PRISM Programme - submit your Expression of Interest below]
Manufacturing companies across Ireland recently joined us online for the PRISM: Practical, Funded Innovation Support for Manufacturing SMEs – Programme Introduction webinar (watch the recording in full below). The session brought together manufacturers, technology providers and programme partners to explore how practical innovation support can help address real operational challenges on the factory floor.
“I’d definitely encourage manufacturing businesses across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to look into the PRISM programme and consider whether it could support their own operational challenges and future plans.”
If you didn’t attend live, here’s the key takeaway: PRISM isn’t about experimenting with shiny technology, it’s about solving real problems, with support, funding and expert guidance.
A programme designed for real manufacturing problems
During the webinar, participants shared common challenges via live polls, from skills shortages and training pressures, to downtime, quality issues and process inconsistency. These challenges aren’t unique, but PRISM exists precisely because many manufacturersdon’t have the time or internal resources to explore new approaches alone.
As programme lead Camille Donegan explained, PRISM is structured to help manufacturers:
Explore emerging technologies without upfront commitment
Focus on clearly defined operational problems
Move step‑by‑step from exploration to practical pilots
The emphasis throughout the session was on practical decision‑making, not technical jargon or long-term speculation.
Why “step‑by‑step” matters
One consistent theme across speakers was the importance of starting small and proving value early, particularly for SMEs.
A real-world example shared during the webinar highlighted how piloting technology in short, focused phases removes risk and builds internal confidence. As one manufacturing participant put it:
“For us, it’s a really clear return on investment. Programme delivery is absolutely key… anywhere we can save time is critically important. That’s why doing a short pilot and then reevaluating step by step really matters.”
That mindset underpins the PRISM Programme structure, which includes hands‑on workshops, supported mentoring and guided exploration rather than theory-heavy training.
Seeing solutions in action, not just slides
The webinar also showcased real manufacturing use cases, including:
Reducing training time and errors using digital workflows
Capturing expert operator knowledge before it’s lost
Improving quality, safety and consistency through applied digital tools
Using digital twins and simulation to test changes before making costly investments
Speakers repeatedly stressed that these solutions are already delivering value in live manufacturing environments, and that adoption does not require massive IT projects or infrastructure changes.
As one presenter noted when discussing ease of deployment:
“From an SME point of view, it’s quite easy to implement and work with straight away, it doesn’t depend on pre‑existing infrastructure or heavy systems.”
What happens next, and why timing matters
The PRISM Programme is now moving into its in‑person workshop stage, where participating manufacturers will:
Work through real operational challenges
Experience live demonstrations at specialist facilities
Receive expert mentoring tailored to their business
Identify tangible next steps, even if they decide not to progress further
Places are limited, and the programme is designed to be staged and low‑commitment, meaning companies can step out after each phase with value already gained.
If the webinar showed what’s possible, the workshops are where manufacturers turn ideas into action.
👉 If you missed the webinar, now is the moment to get involved. The next PRISM workshops are where the real momentum starts.
Read more about the PRISM Programme here.
And submit your Expression of Interest here.
Watch the full recording of the webinar here: