Head of the IfM, Professor Tim Minshall, recently appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Start the Week to discuss his new book, Your Life Is Manufactured. The book explores the often-hidden world of manufacturing, revealing how the products we rely on every day are designed, produced, and distributed - whether in vast mega-factories or small artisanal workshops.

A central theme was sustainability in manufacturing in the 21st century. The conversation delved into the significance of understanding how products are made, the role of innovation in contemporary manufacturing, and the growing importance of repair and circular economy principles.

Tim was joined by former BP Chief Scientist Bernie Bulkin and Fiona Dear from The Restart Project, who provided perspectives on repair, sustainability, and the environmental impact of production.

During the discussion, Tim highlighted fascinating insights from the manufacturing sector, including examples from the Institute for Manufacturing’s research and teaching engagement with manufacturing firms around the UK and internationally. He reminded listeners how deeply involved we all are in manufacturing: “Our world is manufactured and will continue to be so – we just need to figure out a way to do it more effectively and with less harm because manufacturing is what is needed to deliver solutions the world’s big problems.”

If you missed the episode, you can listen back here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0027l51