In some eras, manufacturing processes have been slow to change. But with the speed at which technology moves today, manufacturing operations have to adapt or be left behind. New manufacturing innovations can do amazing things for your process, your organization and your manufacturing cycle speed, and these manufacturing workplace enhancements cannot be ignored if you want your business to succeed and grow.
Here are four of the biggest manufacturing workplace trends to keep an eye on this year and in the years to come.
Industry 4.0
What is Industry 4.0? It involves using the power of modern digital technology to enhance all of your manufacturing capabilities from end to end of product development. Also referred to as “smart manufacturing,” Industry 4.0 manufacturers use technologies like cloud computing to implement better tracking of products, streamline organization, monitor processes and even improve their safety conditions.
The Internet of Things (IoT)
Digital communication has grown far beyond your laptop or tablet. More and more manufacturing operations are using multiple machines, devices and even vehicles that are internet-enabled, making them smart machines that can respond more easily to commands, communicate with each other, and easily store and provide access to data about their activities. These “embedded intelligence” devices can also improve safety and dramatically speed up your workflow through enhanced communication.
Automation
Automation has always been a critical element in manufacturing success, from the assembly line to manufacturing robots. With the speed at which digital technology allows manufacturing to proceed, reliable automation processes are more important than ever. Current technology allows you to not only automate nearly everything that takes place on the floor of your facility but also to automate many managerial and organizational processes as well.
There will always be a need for humans to program, operate or strategically deploy these machines, but relying on automation will inevitably produce better and more error-free products faster, which is a reality that modern manufacturers must embrace.
Augmented Reality
Already showing amazing potential in applications for medicine, urban planning and engineering, augmented reality — the overlaying of virtual reality on the real world — has incredible potential in manufacturing as well. Augmented reality can and will continue to provide opportunities for manufacturers to test their strategies in a way that is not only accurate but also safe for both the manufacturing professional and the product they are trying to manufacture or perfect.
All of these new trends present their own challenges, but they also present tremendous potential. Those who shy away from these manufacturing innovations solely because they are new may miss out on great opportunities to take their products and processes to the next level, and also may fall behind competitors in their manufacturing space who are making the best use of these technologies.
Whatever types of machines or technologies you use in your business, if they go down, you need them fixed right and fixed fast with a minimum of downtime. For quick, affordable and accurate manufacturing machine repair, please contact Global Electronic Services today.