Unveiling the Technological Revolution: Top Manufacturing Trends of 2018
Technological Revolution in Manufacturing
The year 2018 witnessed a remarkable technological revolution in the manufacturing industry, reminiscent of the visionary worlds depicted by Philip K. Dick and Arthur C. Clarke. Embracing innovations that were once confined to science fiction, manufacturers have fundamentally reshaped how they work, communicate, and conduct business.
Exponential Growth in North American Manufacturing
Manufacturing is expanding in North America, engaging over 12 million full-time employees and generating $6 trillion in nominal gross domestic product in the first quarter of 2017 alone. Implementing technology improves factory efficiency, reduces costs, ensures safety, and simplifies management. Automation is poised to become a dominant trend in future manufacturing processes.
Exploring Manufacturing Trends and Technological Applications
This article explores key trends in manufacturing, highlighting how technological advancements can enhance manufacturing capacity and transform processes.
Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)
What is the Internet of Things (IoT)? IoT refers to a cyber-connected world where objects can be sensed or controlled remotely using existing network infrastructure.
Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) means machines can communicate not only with users but also with other devices and equipment, providing analytical data to enhance productivity. Contrary to popular belief, upgrading machinery with IIoT is not overly difficult. Old-school analogue equipment can be fitted with inexpensive machine monitoring sensors, connecting devices with software applications that allow users to collect and analyze real-time information.
IIoT simplifies inter-machine communication, logs production statistics, monitors and controls production lines for safety, predicts potential issues, tracks work quotas, notifies maintenance times, and estimates machine longevity.
The Rise of Robotics
In the modern world, automation is an inevitable trend, continually evolving to meet production-efficiency requirements. By 2025, global expenditure on robotics is expected to reach $67 billion, with about a third allocated to the manufacturing industry.
Implementing robots achieves high precision, productivity, and safety. Robots can work in various environments, handling challenging and dangerous tasks with high consistency. In clean room environments, such as pharmaceutical plants, robots outperform manual labor. According to Forrester Research, 15 million new jobs will emerge over the next decade due to advancements in robotics and automation technology.
Augmented Reality (AR)
Augmented Reality (AR) is a live direct or indirect view of a physical, real-world environment augmented by computer-generated input. While it might sound like a gimmick on a smartphone, AR is revolutionizing product development by allowing virtual testing of manufacturing scenarios before full-scale production.
AR tools enable manufacturers to visualize entire products and processes, identify potential problems, simulate production phases, and optimize manufacturing standards. Additionally, AR aids in tracking inventory, training workers, and providing insights into optimal operational standards.
Accelerating Development with 3D Printing
Similar to AR, 3D printing offers a unique, low-cost method for creating prototypes. Previously an indispensable part of manufacturing, 3D printing will see increased application in 2018, enhancing product development practices and speeding up market entry for new products.
3D printing is now widely used, with significant implications for mass production, from toys to medical devices.
Intelligent Decision-Making with Machine Monitoring
Applying machine monitoring in manufacturing brings significant advantages to efficiency, processing large volumes of data for actionable insights. Machine monitoring systems help companies increase resource capacity, plan maintenance selectively, and improve availability and productivity in manufacturing and process industries.
By translating data into key production indicators, machine monitoring enables real-time decision-making that positively impacts the production floor.
Inbound Marketing
Traditional marketing methods like flyers, trade ads, trade shows, and direct mail are becoming less effective. In contrast, digital business strategies such as website content, social media engagement, and search engine optimization offer low-cost, efficient ways to communicate with customers.
Online marketing is now the preferred method for reaching the masses and attracting potential customers through original content and interaction, proving more successful and cost-effective than traditional methods.
Conclusion
The internet has transformed communication and business operations. Integrating high technology into manufacturing processes optimizes efficiency and productivity. In 2018, high technology is the new trend shaping the exciting future of manufacturing.
Reference: Top Manufacturing Trends to Watch in 2018
