How is the manufacturing industry changing, and what will the future of manufacturing look like? If you are in the manufacturing business, it is in your best interest to anticipate the coming changes so you can take fast action and stay ahead of your competition. Here are five new technological trends that are poised to change manufacturing dramatically:
- Artificial Intelligence
The Artificial Intelligence market is estimated by some sources to grow by over 50 billion dollars over the next three years. The use of automation in manufacturing is nothing new. In fact, robotics revolutionized manufacturing back in the 1960s, and nothing has been the same since.
We are poised for a new revolution with respect to AI and machine learning. New AI technology will allow manufacturers to effectively automate more processes than ever before and even use programs that can develop more effective strategies for improving the supply chain on their own.
- Virtual Reality
The idea of telecommuting and working remotely has had difficulty reaching the manufacturing world as quickly as it has reached other areas where “hands-on” interaction is not as important. That will all change as virtual reality technologies improve, allowing people to jointly work on projects remotely that they would have otherwise had to come into a central location to complete.
- Blockchain
While most people think of blockchain as nothing more than the standard behind Bitcoin, blockchain is a digital technology you can use to easily record and store transactions. That means it has applications for manufacturing in areas like identity management, data collection and supply chain organization.
- 3D Printing
One of the changes that will definitely become more and more prevalent in the near future is 3D printing — another innovation that could truly revolutionize manufacturing. With a 3D printer, companies could manufacture their own replacement parts on the spot, saving considerable time, money and inventory space.
- IoT
The internet of things is most often praised for its ability to make the lives of consumers easier, but it will become more and more useful in the manufacturing space. It can enable production processes to keep track of themselves, collecting and providing more and more useful data, creating models for preventative maintenance and analyzing production quotas, among other features.
While some manufacturers are slow to adopt some of the changes that new technology offers, those who do often find that it is highly in their benefit to do so. Manufacturers can learn how to implement these new technologies very quickly, and the benefits when it comes to efficiency and organization are dramatic.
Concerns that automation, AI and other advances will reduce manufacturing jobs are in all likelihood largely unfounded. Most of these advances are designed to make existing jobs easier and more productive, and those whose jobs are no longer needed can often be shifted into positions controlling and programming robots and other new manufacturing machines.
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