A Century of Craft Meets a Cloud-Powered Future With more than 100 years of automotive heritage, Morgan builds around 800 premium sports cars a year at its Malvern factory. Meanwhile, Banbury-based Prodrive supports racing teams worldwide and manages complex engineering projects across sectors. Though differing in scale and focus, both companies face similar modern manufacturing challenges – from supply chain instability and talent shortages to increasing sustainability demands and the need for greater efficiency. From Manual to Smart Manufacturing: IFS as the Driving Force At IFS Connect UK&I 2025, Dan Godwin (IFS Lead at Morgan Motors) and Alex Harwood (Head of IT at Prodrive) explained how IFS Cloud is transforming their operations. Key innovations highlighted include: Manufacturing Scheduling and Optimization (MSO): Both companies are expecting to benefit from the simulation and optimization features in IFS Cloud, which will allow them to test “what if” scenarios—like adding shifts or changing machine availability—using real-time data. This dynamic scheduling will ensure more reliable delivery timelines and better resource utilization. Shop Floor Workbench: Prodrive highlighted how IFS Shop Floor Workbench empowers operators with relevant, real-time information—replacing inconsistent paper-based instructions with standardized digital workflows. This not only reduces downtime but also boosts engagement and accountability on the shop floor. Remanufacturing and Circular Economy: Prodrive has long reused parts from old race cars, but with IFS Cloud they’re now systemizing this process. By digitizing disassembly, inspection, and reuse of components, they are building a fully traceable and reportable circular workflow that contributes directly to their sustainability reporting and compliance with FIA environmental accreditation. AI-Driven Insights and Forecasting: Both firms are excited by the potential of IFS.ai—particularly large language models (LLMs) that allow natural language queries such as “What did we export to the U.S. last year?” This removes the technical barrier of needing deep system knowledge to access insights. The new transformer-based demand planner is also helping reduce forecast error and inventory holding costs, with proven results of up to 10% inventory reduction. Cloud Migration: Lessons from the Frontlines Morgan transitioned early to IFS Cloud without modifications, leaning on local champions across departments to ensure user buy-in. Prodrive, meanwhile, recently completed a successful self-led upgrade from on-premise, using tools like ClickLearn to support training and automation. Both emphasized: – The importance of involving users early and focusing on the “why” of the upgrade.– The shift in mindset from customizations to configuration and standard use.– A phased rollout of new features after go-live to avoid overwhelming teams. Their key takeaway? Don’t be afraid. With proper preparation and change management, moving to IFS Cloud is not just manageable—it’s a launchpad for continuous improvement. Conclusion: Data-Driven, Human-Centric Transformation Morgan and Prodrive’s stories show that digital transformation in manufacturing doesn’t mean replacing craftsmanship or engineering excellence—it means enhancing it. With tools like MSO, AI-powered forecasting, and IFS Connected Worker platforms, IFS Cloud enables manufacturers to stay agile, sustainable, and competitive in a rapidly evolving world. As Prodrive’s Alex Harwood put it, “With all AI, we’ll know it has succeeded when we stop calling it AI—it’ll just be the way we do things.” Discover how IFS Cloud supports sustainable manufacturing and smart factory operations: Manufacturing Software for the Automotive Industry | IFS