There have been many changes in our daily life with the advancement in technology. It is one of the reasons why you can enjoy so many services and products that you use today. This introduction of technology into manufacturing has taken the whole industry to an entirely new level. It has made everything better- innovation, efficiency, and time.
Here are a few ways through which technology has improved manufacturing processes:
3D Printing
3D printing allows the manufacturing fittings to make complex components economically and quickly. It introduces a new platform for implementation and design. Three-dimensional objects are created by using plastic filament and melted thermoplastic material. Several industries like medical, automotive, and aerospace are using this technology. The drawback of 3D printing technology is that it can only be used to speed up the prototype stages of product creation.
Robotics
Robotics has played a vital role by doing better quality work with less human labor. Humans and machines work together to increase productivity. Also, this technology results in reducing labor costs, increasing efficiency, and enhancing quality. The use of robotics has been exponentially increased in recent times. With the sophistication of robotics, testing products has also become more accurate.
Blockchain Technologies — Decentralized Digital Ledger
Blockchain is a method of recording data with an option to update, access, and share it with users of a network. It works as a digital ledger of transactions. It also allows the manufacturers to create smarter supply chains that are capable of tracking the product’s journey.
They can also track products in real-time and check audit trails of every part of the supply chain. Also, cybercriminals can not hack it because there are no centralized versions of the data.
Artificial Intelligence/ Machine Learning
AI has become famous recently and becoming more affordable with the advancement of technology. It not only automates the tasks but also can teach machines to make complex decisions. They can perform predictive/adaptive equipment maintenance, quality control, and custom product configurations.
Industrial Internet of Things — Smart Manufacturing
A smart manufacturing plant is where machines can “talk” to each other to increase efficiency. It lowers downtime, labor, production costs, improves the quality, and minimizes errors. IIoT has become so common because of the low-cost sensors, advanced software, and connectivity. It can also measure performance, track inventory, regulate maintenance schedules and manage equipment. With this, manufacturers will also be able to optimize performance, troubleshoot production issues, and track their entire workflow— all in real-time.
What Are the Risks of Implementing Technology Into Manufacturing?
Along with so many benefits, there are a few fundamental challenges related to implementing this technology:
Cybersecurity Plan
Cybersecurity is something that manufacturers should install with all technology implementations. It allows them to manage future risks and identify the current security protocols.
Key stakeholders must protect their critical assets and be aware of the information workflow of their organization. They must know the level of risk when the information gets leaked or lost. You should install tools like robust antivirus, fastest VPN, secure firewalls, etc., in advance to make their systems secure.
Rigid Infrastructure
Modern technology and infrastructures can often be incompatible. They might need a transformation in all aspects of the industry. Some of them are training in cloud-based resource planning, flexible production line configurations, or new robotic operations.
Privacy Concerns
There is always a privacy concern with digitization. It should always be considered if the information is collected and can identify a person. It can be the contact information of a customer or employee and any data collected by certain IoT sensors or biometric authentication devices.
Data privacy might not be concerning if it is present on only one device. But, it can create problems when combined with data from other devices. Taking cybersecurity seriously will help with protecting privacy as well.
Available Capital
Having a capital plan is vital to avoid any unbounded investment costs. The cybersecurity aspects of investments can indeed become an issue if it is not evaluated in advance. Once implemented, it allows the SMMs to invest their capital in advanced technology. They can invest in technology that brings ROI. Some of them are improved ability to predict, reduced downtime, and operational efficiency.
One must also consider the cost of non-adoption while considering digitizing manufacturing operations. Factors like failures to keep pace with competitors or struggling to meet current market expectations can be an issue. An investment plan should be made considering any benefit or cost that can incur in the future.
Employee Reluctance
Humans are one of the most common manufacturing digitization challenges. They could compromise the quality and safety of the whole system and can even put the complete system at cyber risk. Mishandling equipment, incorrect machine configuration, and downloading unknown attachments are some errors that they can make. Hence, training the employees for the new process becomes necessary.
