Do you want to stay ahead of the competition? Staying up-to-date on current trends in your industry is crucial to the success of your business.
Manufacturers rapidly lose profit, have to sell out or go under when they don’t assess and adapt their processes over time. Implementing new technology can speed up your processes, saving you money and resources in the long run.
Don’t let your business fall behind. Let us show you what trends to watch out for in 2020.
5 Manufacturing Trends to Watch in 2020
Advancements in AI (artificial intelligence), VR (virtual reality), and AR (augmented reality) have provided manufacturers some innovative tools that improve their processes and the quality of their products.
The rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the creation of 5G networks have taken smart manufacturing to a whole new level. Let’s explore all of these technologies and discuss how they impact the industry in more detail.
Predictive Maintenance
AI makes predictive maintenance possible. It allows you to prevent asset failure by analyzing production data for patterns to predict failures.
Machinery is expensive, so proper maintenance is crucial to keeping your equipment running in top shape for as long as possible.
Factory managers have always had to base their machine maintenance schedules on the recommendations of the manufacturers. The downside to this method is that it creates costly productivity losses.
Predictive maintenance can help you prevent costly downtimes and repairs due to machine malfunctions.
With predictive maintenance, you can spot failures and potential problems before they happen, which allows you to reduce the amount of downtime required. Your machinery will last much longer and need fewer repairs as well.
Recommended Reading: AI in Manufacturing: A Game-Changer for Optimized Production
Virtual and Augmented Reality
Leading manufacturers are using VR and AR to improve worker safety and create better products while cutting costs.
VR allows you to immerse your employees in a virtual environment where they can manipulate objects or perform tasks. You can simulate an employee’s work environment and capture all their movements to evaluate the safety of your current processes and assembly line configurations.
You’ll be able to identify any situations that could be dangerous and train your employees for future workstations.
Depth sensors, goggles with cameras, and motion sensors allow engineers to see parts and instructions so they can assemble components quickly and correctly. Companies like Lockheed Martin have seen their engineers are working 30% faster with the implementation of VR and AR technologies, and their accuracy increased dramatically, up to 96%.
Manufacturers like Boeing have eliminated the need for costly, full-scale models to be built. Microsoft’s VR Technology has cut the amount of training time by 75% per person and they predict they will save millions with VR.
Wearable Technology
Wearable technology is valuable to the manufacturing industry in a variety of ways. Wearable tech has proved itself useful in the prevention of injuries and increasing productivity by improving safety and situational awareness.
Devices like Google Glass can inform employees when machinery is malfunctioning or if a surface is too hot to touch. It can even tell you when there are conditional hazards to watch out for, such as spilled chemicals.
Hands-free devices assist on the job training by allowing employees to learn without fear of equipment damage or injury. General Motors used Google Glass to allow employees to train on the production line. The glasses answered questions and provided them with solutions to any problems they had.
Devices like Google Glass are perfect for employees working in a product fulfillment center. They can use the device to find exactly where a product is in the warehouse, which helps to speed up fulfillment times.
Recommended Reading: 3 Benefits of Using Mobile Devices in Manufacturing
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity is quickly becoming a top concern for manufacturers as they integrate and connect more devices. Manufacturers must educate their employees on cybersecurity protocols to minimize potential problems.
Something as simple as charging their mobile device in a company USB port could have devastating consequences. Through a breach in your cybersecurity, hackers can steal your valuable intellectual property. They can get in your system and make your equipment start producing faulty products, or even shut down your plant completely.
You’ll need to create and implement a plan to protect your company from cybersecurity threats. The plan you come up with should specify the processes and protocols you’re going to put into place to prevent the following threats:
- Phishing: emails sent to trick recipients into sharing sensitive information — like passwords.
- Spear Phishing: targeting phishing where recipients are hand-picked based on their role in the company.
- Identity Theft: hackers break into your database where your customers’ information is stored.
- Compromised Web Pages: hackers take over your website and post misleading or vulgar content.
5G / Smart Manufacturing
Connected devices will be able to interoperate with one another and sense their environments.
Manufacturers can utilize 5G networks to create new revenue streams and enhance the devices they use. 5G networks will make futuristic factories possible.
AT&T predicts that its 5G network will revolutionize the manufacturing industry and be a vital part of the fourth industrial revolution.
Smart factories are becoming the standard in the industry — for a good reason. Leveraging the power of AI, automation, and the IoT is essential if you want to see your company grow and develop for many years to come.
Recommended Reading: Manufacturing Employee Turnover: 3 Tips to Reduce Costs
Stay Informed on Current Trends
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