Rising demand for high-quality, affordable products has put pressure on manufacturers to optimize their processes. Let’s explore some of the leading solutions that have transformed the industry. Learn more: http://ms.spr.ly/6000Tweiq

1. Automation
5 Manufacturing
Technology Trends
That Lead to
Cost Savings
In today’s globalized, competitive marketplace, being able to leverage technology
solutions to deliver faster turnaround times and achieve economies of scale can mean the
difference between success and irrelevancy.
spent on activities performed by workers in
production occupations are automatable.
With the cost of human labor now 15% higher than the cost of robotic labor, having a
mixed environment equipped with automation and “cobots” could pay off in the long run.
Why automate?
Reduce the time spent on repetitive tasks.
Remove bottlenecks from production.
Decrease waste & raw material costs.
The global market for 3D printing
and services is expected to reach
It enables companies to create low-cost prototypes with higher precision. It also supports:
• In-house manufacturing
• Mass customization
• Accelerated production deployment
• Quality assurance software & devices ensure reports are accurate.
• Cloud services enable virtual sharing of data from any location, quickly & efficiently.
• High-performance compute keeps iteration turnaround time low.
• Edge computing provides deeper insights, faster.
• Data tracking based on consumer requests may lead to product design
improvements & more accurate demand forecasting.
• Predictive analytics can help detect disruptions & prevent downtime.
How will 3D printing directly impact manufacturers?
Unified communication technology converges audio, video, email, voicemail,
instant messaging and conferencing.
Wearables help improve worker safety and provide data to support smarter
business decision-making.
IoT-enabled sensors on shipping containers allow more accurate tracking.
Barcode scanners aid inventory control to avoid surplus or shortage.
87% of the
hours
Increase accuracy & production speed.
Produce with a higher degree of customization.
Reduce human error, downtime & risk of injury.
3D printing
Connectivity
$50 billion by 2025.
• Capability to create small batches
• Greater consistency
Big data
When companies have greater visibility into sales, inventory and departmental
metrics, it’s easier to stay aligned to business goals and find areas of improvement.
Additional benefits of data management software and storage solutions:
Manufacturers need to be able to communicate with their partners, suppliers
and teammates anytime, anywhere — from the warehouse to factory.
41% of business decision-makers say ensuring security of data in dispersed
environments is a top concern.
Specifically, manufacturing is the 3rd most vulnerable business sector to cyberattacks.
But nearly 30% of all network attacks can be prevented with the addition of better
security reviews and controls.
Security
Perimeter security Intranet security Network security
Firewalls, intrusion prevention
systems & spam protection
Anti-malware software &
regular software updates
Multifactor authentication &
segmented access
Bridging the skills gap
The industry may have as many as 2.4 million jobs to fill between now and 2028.
Why? There’s a shortage in skill sets for the technology trends listed above.
Investing in training opportunities around both emerging trends and traditional expertise can help
increase talent attraction and retention.
And fewer errors, greater productivity and lower turnover may lead to long-term cost savings.
Sources:
Encyclopedia Britannica. (n.d.). Manufacturing Applications of Automation and Robotics.
IMB. (2018). IBM X-Force Threat Intelligence Index 2018.
Insight 2020 Technology Report: IT Trends for Midmarket and Small Business.
International Bar Association. (April 2017). IBA Global Employment Institute: Artificial
Intelligence and Robotics and Their Impact on the Workplace.
Manufacturing Institute and Deloitte. (2018). Skills Gap in Manufacturing Study.
McKinsey & Company. (September 2017). Human + Machine: A New Era of Automation in
Manufacturing.
Singanamalla, D. (March 2014). Top Challenges and Benefits of Unified Communications in the
Manufacturing Industry. The Mindful IT Company.
Smartsheet Report. (2017). Automation in the Workplace.
The Manufacturer. (2018). Connected and Intelligent: Smarter Manufacturing for SMEs.
Wagner, I. (2019, Nov. 18). Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing – Statistics & Facts. Statista.