DIGI4TAF: International Expertise and Practical Training for Manufacturing Enterprises / An Opportunity to Access International Expertise at No Cost to Your Business
Manufacturing enterprises in Ukraine have the opportunity to take part in the free 10-week practical DIGI4TAF programme, focused on digital transformation, manufacturing efficiency, and the implementation of modern management tools.
This is not simply a series of webinars. The programme is designed as practical training where enterprises work with Lean, process management, quality management, production data, artificial intelligence, and digital solutions.
The programme’s particular value lies in the level of expertise. Participants will work with Ukrainian and international specialists who have hands-on experience implementing the tools and approaches they teach. The expert team also includes professionals with international experience and teaching backgrounds, including MBA-level education.
“Before 2022, a similar level of international business training and expert support could have required an investment of several thousand euros per participant. Today, thanks to UNIDO’s support, Ukrainian manufacturing enterprises can access this expertise free of charge. This is a significant opportunity for companies seeking to improve their efficiency without substantial investment in external consulting and training,” says Olga Trofymova, Director of Quality Centre LLC and Head of the DIGI4TAF team.
DIGI4TAF starts not with technology, but with an analysis of the manufacturing process itself.
Enterprises first need to understand where losses, downtime, unnecessary operations, and quality issues occur, which processes need to be changed, and only then determine where automation or digitalisation is truly needed.
Participants will work with the following areas:
The programme therefore guides enterprises from identifying a specific problem to selecting and practically implementing an appropriate solution.
“The most expensive thing for furniture manufacturing is not a lack of equipment, but inefficient processes. When experienced employees spend their time on manual planning, searching for information, or constantly clarifying order statuses, the business loses its most valuable resource — time. Digitalisation does not replace people. It helps them work more efficiently.” Oksana Straz, Executive Director of the Lviv Furniture Cluster and Development Director at FIX street furniture.
For enterprises in the furniture and woodworking sector, the training includes five thematic blocks.
28 September – 9 October — Lean Management
Participants will work with Lean approaches and tools that help identify waste, optimise production flows, reduce downtime, and improve productivity.
12–16 October — Circular and Digital Transformation in the Furniture Industry
This module will focus on the transformation of furniture production — from product design and use to reuse and end-of-life management.
19–30 October — Process Management
The focus will be on systematic process management, performance indicators, planning, and the use of data for management decision-making.
9–20 November — Quality Management
Participants will explore modern approaches to quality management and opportunities for digitalisation to improve the stability and controllability of production processes.
23 November – 4 December — Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing
Practical applications of AI for everyday business challenges, including information analysis, reporting, automation of selected operations, and support for management processes.
The programme brings together Ukrainian and international experts in digital transformation, production systems, Lean, innovation, and enterprise development.
The expert team includes Olga Trofymova, Head of the DIGI4TAF team and Director of Quality Centre LLC; Volodymyr Sprenne, an expert in production systems; Iryna Darvai, an expert in innovation and digital technologies; and Georgii Bilousov, a project manager and trainer in international development programmes.
Industry experts from the textile, agri-food, furniture, and woodworking sectors are also involved. The furniture and woodworking sector is represented by Oksana Straz.
The programme also includes guest lectures by international experts Richard Keegan, Klaus Bitz, Maximilian Foedinger, and Yutaka “Joe” Fukuyama.
This gives participants access not only to theoretical knowledge but also to international experience in implementing modern manufacturing and management practices.
The programme is focused on practical work. Participants will be able to apply the tools they learn to their own production processes rather than simply studying abstract examples.
Selected enterprises will receive up to 20 hours of individual expert support for the pilot implementation of digital solutions.
As a result, enterprises can not only strengthen their teams’ digital competencies but also identify specific areas for improvement and take the first practical steps toward implementation.
DIGI4TAF is designed for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in the textile, agri-food, furniture, and woodworking sectors located in central and western regions of Ukraine.
The programme is relevant for business owners and managers as well as production managers, technologists, designers, quality specialists, R&D professionals, and administrative staff.
Enterprises do not have to delegate only their top manager to the programme. Different parts of the training can be assigned to employees who are directly responsible for the relevant processes.
Free participation does not mean that the programme has no value.
Enterprises gain access to dozens of hours of practical training, Ukrainian and international experts, industry-specific expertise, workshops, learning visits, and, for selected participants, individual expert support.
Under normal circumstances, engaging experts at this level, accessing international training, and receiving practical consulting support would require significant investment from an enterprise.
At present, these costs are covered through UNIDO’s support. However, such opportunities are not permanent. International donor support has defined timeframes, making it important for enterprises to take advantage of the available expertise now.
Participation is free of charge.
The programme starts in September 2026.
DIGI4TAF is an opportunity for Ukrainian manufacturing enterprises to access international expertise, assess their current processes, identify growth opportunities, and move from individual digital tools toward systematic transformation.
Not digitalisation for the sake of digitalisation, but manufacturing that is simpler, more transparent, more manageable, and more efficient.
About the project
The project “Supporting the Recovery and Development of Industrial Sectors in Ukraine through Digital Transformation and the Development of an Innovation Ecosystem” is implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) within the UNIDO Green Recovery Programme for Ukraine (2024–2028), with financial support from the Governments of Austria and Bulgaria, in partnership with the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine and the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine. The training component is implemented by Quality Centre LLC in cooperation with industry clusters, associations, and European Digital Innovation Hubs.
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