MIY Factory Tour: Siddall & Hilton

Where: Siddall & Hilton, Birds Royd Ln, Brighouse, HD6 1LT
When: Thursday 4th June | 9:00am - 12:00pm

Event Overview

Siddall & Hilton is one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of high-security steel mesh fencing systems, supplying critical infrastructure projects across the UK and internationally. But beyond their product, what sets the business apart today is how they are transforming operations through the practical, company-wide application of AI.

This isn’t a pilot project or a single use case — AI has been embedded across the business, from production and engineering through to sales, HR and planning. The result is a step-change in how decisions are made, how quickly problems are solved, and how knowledge is captured and scaled.

What makes this particularly powerful is how it has been achieved: not through large-scale digital transformation programmes, but through curiosity, experimentation, and empowering teams to apply AI to real operational challenges.

From reducing engineering design time from hours to minutes, to predicting machine downtime, optimising production planning, enhancing recruitment decisions and uncovering commercial opportunities ahead of competitors — Siddall & Hilton are demonstrating what’s possible when AI is applied with intent and ownership across a manufacturing business

This tour offers a rare opportunity to see what that looks like in practice — and to understand how other manufacturers can begin their own journey.

What You’ll See on the Tour

Attendees will move through key areas of the business, exploring how AI is being applied across functions to deliver measurable impact:

AI in Production & Operations

How real-time machine data is being used to:

• Predict completion times and improve customer communication

• Flag performance issues and prompt corrective action

• Identify maintenance windows before failures occur

• Support cross-team visibility between production, engineering and commercial teams

Workforce Planning & Skills Visibility

How AI is replacing manual planning processes by:

• Dynamically allocating labour based on skills and availability

• Highlighting competency gaps and training needs

• Reducing planning time from hours to minutes

• Improving decision-making across production scheduling

Engineering & Technical Application

How AI is accelerating engineering processes by:

• Turning hand sketches into CAD-ready outputs in minutes

• Supporting predictive maintenance decisions based on machine data

• Enabling engineers to test, iterate and problem-solve faster than ever

Commercial Insight & Sales Intelligence

How AI is being used to:

• Analyse customer trends and identify revenue risks and opportunities

• Track market activity and competitor movements

• Identify upcoming project opportunities through supply chain insight

• Inform smarter, faster commercial decision-making

AI in Recruitment & HR

How AI is transforming hiring and onboarding by:

• Screening CVs objectively and efficiently

• Analysing interview transcripts to assess candidate suitability

• Supporting better onboarding through deeper understanding of individuals

• Removing bias from early-stage decision-making

Agenda

9:00 AM – 9:45 AM
Arrival, breakfast & relaxed networking

9:45 AM – 10:20 AM
Welcome & introduction to Siddall & Hilton

10:20 AM – 11:20 AM
Guided factory tour

11:20 AM – 11:50 AM
Panel discussion & open Q&A

11:50 AM – 12:00 PM
Close and further networking