Manufacturing firms have long relied on technology to help control equipment, track jobs, build work plans, and design products. Here are some of the trends that are shaping the sector today.
Costs have dropped significantly in recent years, making 3D printing an attractive option for some applications. The ability to “print” on-demand allows for small run sizes and reduces the need to store the finished products in warehouses. 3D printing technology also speeds up the often time-consuming process of tooling by facilitating the rapid testing and prototyping of molds and fixtures.
Many manufacturers have already integrated IIoT technologies into their processes and more still say they have plans to do so in the near term. One prime example of the use of IIoT technologies is in the area of predictive maintenance.
Downtime is expensive for virtually any manufacturer. Unexpected downtime due to avoidable machine failure is particularly frustrating. IIoT technologies can help gather data that can be analyzed using artificial intelligence that can spot patterns that indicate a failure is near.
With 2020 brought the scattering of non-production employees to remote workplaces. Collaboration platforms are becoming widespread ensuring everyone involved in the manufacturing process remains involved and connected.
With the global disruption of supply chains of 2020 came a new focus on the health of vendors down the line. A disruption at any point in the chain can cause chaos and manufacturers are putting a high priority on building digital supply chains. Utilizing IIoT technologies gives manufacturers real-time information about activities occurring in what are often very complex supply chains. Given the ability to foresee problems allows manufacturers more time to re-source parts or gear up for in-house production.
Smart manufacturers of all sizes are leveraging technology to remain competitive. They know that their technology must be managed and maintained just like any of their production floor equipment. And with so much evolution in this space the need to see clearly into the future and build technology roadmaps that support their vision is essential.
