Manufacturing and production have seen new heights over the past few decades. We have come to computerized and automated manufacturing from manual labor. Still, the industry keeps on evolving as time is passing with each day we are experiences innovations and technologies being introduced to the world of manufacturing.
Let’s look at some of the manufacturing trends in the coming years!
IoT
Yes, the IoT has been one of the manufacturing trends and it is going to stay here. The internet of things is enabling the manufacturers to stay connected to the world outside of their manufacturing plant and it helps them to connect with the ongoing trends and demands of the market.
The IoT provides the means to monitor and observe the process and overall operation to create a successful product. It gives them chance to optimize and change the areas or technologies on time.
The use of smart sensors and being connected through cloud computing and internet gives the valuable data and propels the improvement in products and gives them the leverage of competing in the industry.
AI & Machine Learning
Artificial intelligence and machine learning are two major manufacturing trends that are evolving hard and making their presence noticed more than ever. AI is being used in several manufacturing processes; it is a tool that allows the computer’s system to make decisions based on input data and past experiences.
Machine learning and AI does not refer to the robotic machinery that is actively used in manufacturing processes to automate the regular tasks that are repeated every day. It recognizes the current state of the industry and helps to manage and control the production and inventory as per the industry trends.
Machine learning and AI are helping in several processes of manufacturing and supply chain like:
- Inventory Management
- Supply Chain Management
- Asset Allocation & Tracking
- Forecasting
Cobots or Collaborative Robots
The manufacturing trends, as the name suggests, are mechanical robots that are made with the sole purpose to work with humans in collaboration rather than transferring the task completely to the robots. These work in the same manufacturing plants with other employees and share the task responsibilities.
By looking at the previous experience we can say that cobots are useful and helps in getting the job done better, efficiently, and quickly too be it the manufacturing unit or warehouse management. These can help move heavy objects or assemble bigger parts that cannot be done on an assembling assemblynveyor belt.
Training & Retention of the Employees
It is a never expiring trend that will pave the right direction for your manufacturing company. You can stay in competition only if your staff is trained properly and they know how to handle or tackle any situation at the given time.
The manufacturing companies are always struggling to find skilled and trained professionals but succeeding is a completely different thing. Even if you have the best staff even then you need to train them from time to time to keep them updated.
The market demands and technology keep changing every year or every quarter so staying behind the trends is not going to help you or your employees. By empowering your workforce you make them updated and that will help ultimately to minimize the cost and time taken in the operation.
Employee Safety
Employee safety is a global phenomenon that is trending. Looking in past we have been through Covid-19 the employee safety has become quite the top priority of the companies. The companies are investing in installing reflective materials and signs to protect their employees in hazardous manufacturing units and areas.
Even in commercial buildings, the employees are told to follow safety precautions and are trained regularly to avoid fatal accidents. Companies have also started following the government mandates to provide various health and other benefits to their employees.
Predictive Maintenance
In previous years the maintenance used to be something which was done once in a while or when there was a complete breakdown. It was a trend to use the resources to the extent until they were drained and ultimately broke down.
But this work ethic has been replaced with proactive or predictive maintenance. It is one of the biggest manufacturing trends in the current market. Earlier during a complete breakdown, it was very costly to get the machines working again perfectly, and sometimes it wasn’t even possible.
People have learned to change their mindset regarding this and now we see a rise in companies that have dedicated people for just maintenance purposes and it saves them a lot of money and time in absence of breakdowns.
Sustainable & Smart Products
The trend of IoT and awareness of our environment and climate change has changed the way the consumers used to look at the products and services. Now they want alternates for the products that are high in carbon emissions and taking plenty of natural resources in manufacturing.
Some companies are dedicated to producing recycled goods only and their products are biodegradable also and they are going well in the consumer market. So we need to look at the alternates of the traditional and old methods of production.
People are gravitating toward options that are sustainable, reusable, and recyclable. The fast fashion and throw-away culture are receding and hopefully, come to end shortly.
Conclusion
There are a lot of global manufacturing trends in the production and manufacturing sector, some of them we mentioned have been on the trending list for some time now and these are staying here for coming years too.
The production and manufacturing sector is changing and calibrating itself with automation, AI, machine learning, and such technologies.