Bristol-based textile manufacturer The Bristol Weaving Mill designs and produces woven fabrics for the fashion and interiors sectors. As the business grew, they reached a point where their existing production systems and workflows could no longer support increased demand.
To scale successfully, the company needed to invest in new machinery and improve their internal processes. Their existing production scheduling methods would not accommodate additional equipment, creating a barrier to increasing capacity and efficiency.
Through Made Smarter South West, The Bristol Weaving Mill received support from both a Made Smarter intern and an academic mentor with expertise in computer science.
Together, they mapped the company's production workflow from start to finish, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency. The internship resulted in the development of a bespoke project management system with integrated cost calculations, helping streamline production planning and reducing manual administrative tasks.
Alongside this, grant funding enabled the business to invest in a new digital weaving loom, increasing manufacturing capability and supporting future growth.
The new project management system has transformed how production is managed, allowing the team to schedule work across multiple machines and prepare for increased manufacturing capacity.
The addition of a digital weaving loom has improved production by:
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Producing more complex fabrics
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Reducing production faults
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Increasing weaving speed
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Improving overall output
Together, these have strengthened operational efficiency, reduced the risks associated with expansion and created a scalable platform for future growth.
"Having these new systems in place has been really transformational for the business. Made Smarter has helped reduce the risk around taking the next steps."
Juliet Bailey, Managing Director, The Bristol Weaving Mill
With improved digital systems and increased production capacity, The Bristol Weaving Mill is well positioned for its next phase of growth. The combination of expert mentoring, practical implementation support and grant funding has given the business the confidence and capability to scale efficiently while continuing to deliver high-quality woven textiles.
