Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS): free business improvement support

September 03, 2026

Aquaculture businesses looking improve productivity, reduce waste and strengthen competitiveness can access free support through SMAS

Despite its name, the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS) is not limited to traditional manufacturing businesses - any organisation that carries out repeatable processes could benefit. The service offers practical, expert-led support to help organisations identify inefficiencies, improve performance and embed a culture of continuous improvement.

Free manufacturing review

The starting point for most organisations is a free review - an independent assessment of current operations and opportunities for improvement. Businesses receive a written report and there is no is no obligation to proceed further following the review.

How SMAS helps

SMAS practitioners are experienced specialists in process improvement, operational efficiency and innovation. Support is available across a range of areas, including:

Business and operational reviews
Process improvement/continuous improvement
Workforce development
Production and workplace layout optimisation
Quality improvement
Supply chain management
Procurement and sourcing
Product development
Strategic planning
Industry 4.0 and digital transformation

‘Lean’ thinking

A key principle behind SMAS is lean thinking, focusing on delivering value to customers while reducing unnecessary activities, time, costs and resources. Rather than focusing solely on core operations, ‘lean’ encourages organisations to examine the day-to-day processes surrounding them and identify opportunities to remove waste and improve efficiency.

For many businesses, small improvements in workflow, communication, stock management or workspace organisation can deliver significant productivity gains over time.

Could your business benefit?

SMAS support may be valuable if your organisation is looking to:

Reduce waste and inefficiency
Lower costs and overheads
Improve profitability
Improve cash flow
Make better use of facilities and equipment
Improve workplace layout and space utilisation
Strengthen competitiveness
Improve quality and consistency
Introduce Lean or Six Sigma approaches
Improve stock management
Develop staff capability
Prepare for future growth or investment

Support across the aquaculture supply chain

Continuous improvement becomes increasingly important as aquaculture businesses respond to rising costs, sustainability requirements and growing market expectations. By helping organisations work smarter and make better use of existing resources, SMAS can help businesses improve resilience, productivity and long-term growth.

SMAS is hosting a series of workshops in autumn 2026 at the Manufacturing Innovation Centre Moray (MICM) in Forres.

Further information