Manufacturing companies need to keep themselves abreast of emerging technologies if they are to move forward. Whether it’s the transformational shift to big data analysis or the adoption of advanced robotics and 3D printing, the need for change will arise in manufacturing businesses. For example, with advanced technologies, manufacturing companies are able to lower the requirement for manual labor, cut down the cost of production, and speed up manufacturing processes. Here are the top 3 modern technologies driving manufacturing companies towards great futures.
Industrial IoT
The fuss around the Internet of Things (IoT) revolution is very well pronounced. In the manufacturing industry, IoT is rapidly transforming industrial and manufacturing domains. It is affording workers the rare opportunity to expedite productivity and eliminate complex processes. Some industry gurus estimate that the IoT market value stood around $25 billion as of 2020.
But what’s the IoT craze all about? Well, it’s a broad technological field that encompasses machine learning, cloud integration, automation, and other innovations. The idea is to introduce intelligence into everyday objects like household appliances, namely heating and cooling systems, lighting systems, and basically – everything. Since the Internet is at the center of this revolution, IoT is poised to impact many businesses. The use of IoT-enabled sensors will allow factory workers to perform predictive analysis and maintain equipment efficiently.
3-D Printing
3-dimensional printing (in other words, additive manufacturing) has positively impacted many manufacturing businesses since its inception. The application of this technology is most visible in the aerospace engineering sector, the automobile industry, as well as commercial and industrial equipment manufacturing. 3D high volume production is assisting companies to rise above their competitors. By using production 3D printers, manufacturing businesses can achieve end-use production parts without tooling. That means small and large manufacturing companies can increase their production capacities without employing many hands.
This innovative technology involves the printing of physical objects from complex 3D computer files. As a result, it’s now possible to print materials like metals, rubber, and plastic. Unlike conventional manufacturing processes, 3D printers allow manufacturers to create complex products without incurring extra costs. The healthcare industry is also attempting to use this technology to also print biological organs (living tissues). This too, will revolutionize medicine in several ways.
Artificial intelligence (AI)
AI goes hand in hand with IoT. For many years, the application of robotics has helped manufacturers increase their productivity while minimizing the unit cost of production. Undoubtedly, AI and machine learning play huge roles in manufacturing businesses. With AI, manufacturing teams can properly analyze their data to gain relevant insights that are key for cutting down operational costs and improving quality control in the manufacturing chain.
Thanks to the perfect partnership between AI and machine learning, robots are collaborating effectively with human laborers to bring agility to manufacturing companies. As industrial robots become smarter, manufacturers will employ them to handle mundane tasks and save time to improve their customer service departments and other revenue-generating projects.
The impact of cutting-edge technology on modern manufacturing businesses have several benefits attached to it. The above technologies, in addition to virtual reality, augmented reality, and big data analysis, are game-changers for manufacturing businesses.