November Wrap-Up – Digital Innovation at the Forefront

Showcasing our Made Smarter grant success – and welcoming new talent

November has been a standout month at Datalink Electronics as we proudly welcomed representatives from Made Smarter East Midlands and the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) back into our facility. Earlier this year, Datalink was awarded match-funded grant support through the Made Smarter programme, enabling us to invest in digital process improvements designed to boost efficiency, enhance precision, and strengthen future scalability.

The visit focused on reviewing the impact of our grant-funded investment and showcasing how we’ve applied the funding to real operational improvements. Our team demonstrated the transition from traditional paper-based route cards to a fully digital platform with integrated Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). This new system is already delivering measurable benefits, including improved process consistency, enhanced traceability, and clearer visibility across manufacturing and assembly.

This transformation forms part of a wider digital roadmap developed with Made Smarter guidance. Their support has been instrumental in accelerating our adoption of smarter manufacturing technologies and ensuring we are well positioned to deliver high-quality products with agility. Alongside our technology upgrades, our teams continue to embrace new digital skills and upskilling opportunities to ensure these tools deliver maximum value.

Welcoming Andy Cropley – Strengthening our Digital Journey

This month also marks the arrival of Andy Cropley, who joins Datalink as a Production Engineer – and he is already playing an active role in advancing our digital transformation.

Andy brings 23+ years of electronics manufacturing experience, with deep expertise in SMT, PTH, digital manufacturing systems, and NPI delivery. His background includes:

• Rolling out and standardising MES platforms such as Aegis FactoryLogix
• Leading process automation, including RFQ automation, documentation optimisation, and Excel/VBA-driven improvements
• Managing end-to-end NPIs and improving build documentation, traceability, and process flow from prototype to medium-volume manufacture
• Strong experience with Mycronic SMT lines, AOI programming, oven profiling, and quality systems including NCR processes and reporting tools

With his proven track record in MES/ERP integration, digital process optimisation, and continuous improvement, Andy is already contributing insight and hands-on expertise to our ongoing shift toward fully integrated, data-driven manufacturing.

His background in implementing digital work instructions, streamlining build packs, and reducing program creation time adds valuable momentum to our current Made Smarter initiatives and the next stage of our digital roadmap.

We are delighted to welcome Andy to the team and look forward to the impact his experience will bring as we continue expanding our digital capabilities.

Looking Ahead

As we look toward 2026, this year’s achievements provide a solid foundation for further advancements, including deeper data integration, smarter routing, increased automation, and continued process optimisation.

We’re proud of how far we’ve come – and excited about where we’re heading.