What is manufacturing technology?
Technology has significantly affected all industries. The manufacturing sector has seen tremendous growth due to various technological advancements. Many new-age technological tools and innovations are helping in streamlining the supply chain processes, enhancing the quality of products, and increasing the speed of production. The manufacturing industry always had an appetite for new technologies.
The technology that helps in carrying out various manufacturing processes and improves the productivity, quality, precision, and speed of these processes, is called manufacturing technology. Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), 3D printing, Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) are some of the advancements that are used in the manufacturing industry.
Some of the most revolutionary technologies that are driving the manufacturing industry are:
- Artificial Intelligence
- IoT (Internet of Things)
- 3D Printing
- Advanced Robotics
- Augmented Reality
- Virtual Reality
Manufacturing technology is widely used in the automobile industry. Automobile manufacturers invest millions in these technologies to produce robust and sturdy cars. Technology and AI are revolutionizing many industries by minimizing the production time and producing goods in a flawless and precise way.
How does technology help manufacturing?
In the last decade, technology affected every industry, including the manufacturing industry. New-age technological tools and innovative products transformed the world. Technological advancements have significantly impacted businesses and brought exponential growth.
You may have heard buzzwords such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), deep learning, etc. Each of these technologies helps the manufacturing industry in a way that is difficult to comprehend.
IoT helps in interconnecting machines and systems. AI and ML analyze massive amounts of data and provide helpful insights. With these in place, manufacturing processes and systems become more efficient and productive. Businesses and manufacturers can use these advanced manufacturing technologies to streamline processes and ensure growth and profitability.
The entire value chain becomes more efficient, improving the quality of the products. Using these technologies to analyze and get real-time data and using that data to prioritize business objectives made the processes more efficient.
Using advanced manufacturing techniques, industries can meet their green energy goals by monitoring, adjusting, and improving the high energy-consuming processes. With more intelligent technologies in action, the manufacturing processes, logistics (shipping and delivery), and packaging methods are becoming more efficient. By using real-time data, manufacturers are optimizing processes at every level of their value chain, standardizing them, having more control, and increasing their productivity and profitability. Due to their excellent quality, efficiency, and accuracy, the usage of manufacturing technological tools is booming. It is expected that their use will increase more rapidly in the next decade.
Manufacturing technology trends in 2021
- Internet of Things (IoT)
IoT is a mix of many technologies. It is a combination of data analysis, automation tech, machine learning, cloud, and sensor technology that are deployed and used in various contexts. IoT is becoming extremely common and widely used in the manufacturing industry. Studies show that by 2020, around 25 billion IoT devices were sold. Manufacturers implement these devices to monitor the various processes, ensure visibility in the entire supply chain, and identify faults within the processes. IoT is augmenting technological advancement in the manufacturing industry.
- Artificial Intelligence and Big Data
Artificial intelligence helps manufacturers make rapid and effective data-driven decisions. Every action can be monitored by placing sensors that can collect real-time data. Using the collected data, manufacturers can develop strategies to optimize the processes and make them more efficient. Advanced analytics help in the maintenance of the machines by responding and resolving various issues in real-time. Generative design and digital twin are two significant use cases of AI which help manufacturers explore ideas and designs which they could not explore otherwise.
With real-time data and cloud computing capabilities, manufacturers can use a large pool of data to get exciting insights. They can track the essential metrics and use them to monitor production efficiency and address various issues in real-time. Inventory management, tracking of goods, forecasting, logistics, etc., are aspects of manufacturing that can be improved and optimized by taking a data-driven approach.
- 3D Printing
3D printing is making the manufacturing processes faster and easier. It is less human-dependent and produces quality products with utmost precision. This technology has been there in the industry for the last 40 years. Instead of manufacturing products and storing them in warehouses, manufacturers rely on 3D printing technology to produce products on demand. This technology serves as a highly cost-effective option to test new products. Manufacturers can use it to create products for prototype testing.
Traditionally, manufacturers used to create moulds and fixtures that were necessary for the manufacturing of a product. These tools or parts were usually outsourced from foreign tooling companies. With the 3D printing technology in action, this process became effortless and cost-efficient. Outsourcing was a very time-consuming process, and with 3D printing in place, manufacturers are producing vast quantities of these products in a short time. The automotive and aerospace industries are using this technology extensively in recent times.
- Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality took over the disrupted industry. Augmented Reality is a revolutionizing invention. With the help of AR, you can create a realistic illusion by using expensive cutting-edge electronics, which will allow you to superimpose digital content over a real-world environment.
These assistive technologies made remote work much simpler in the manufacturing business. The technicians can help the customers with basic repairs and troubleshooting problems. Due to the pandemic, many people are now preferring a contactless service and are willing to explore this option. There is no need to build complex prototypes anymore.
Virtual Reality helps people experience the products more realistically. It significantly reduces the time needed to design and develop an actual product prototype. VR is not only improving the efficiency of manufacturing processes but also contributing significantly to the safety of plant workers. It enables officials to simulate the assembly line configurations and production processes and detect flaws that can cause accidents, thereby reducing the fatality and injury rates.
- Advanced Robotics
Advanced robotics is a field that is very wide and complicated. It uses intelligent sensors and interacts with the real world around it. It is a combination of powerful hardware and ultra-sophisticated programming. This advanced technology is helping manufacturers by carrying out the mechanical manufacturing processes to build more robust products. The sale of robotic parts and robots is growing rapidly. Many technology-focused organizations are building customized robots for various manufacturing industries of different domains and sizes.
The companies are starting to realize the reduced cost, increased operational efficiency, and precision. Robotic arms are also quite common in the supply chain of heavy industries, where these arms help carry out assembly processes. Collaborative robots are another advancement where people and robots work together to carry out various industrial processes.
The future of manufacturing technology
Manufacturing technology is constantly evolving. There is an ever-evolving scope for the birth of new tools and innovations that can bring efficiency and enhance the productivity of manufacturing processes in different industries.
The next decade will witness a paradigm shift in the entire manufacturing process. Additive manufacturing techniques will replace the traditional manufacturing processes. It will transform into a more interconnected environment where ultra-sophisticated systems will be driven by large pools of data. Big data and machine learning will help manufacturers understand the consumer needs, their demands and help them translate these needs automatically into prospective products. These fundamental developments in the manufacturing processes fueled by real-time data and technology-driven ecosystems will help manufacturers produce higher quality products and achieve higher profit margins.
Many people have understood that industry 4.0 (the fourth industrial revolution) has played a crucial role in the advancement of the manufacturing industry. Several new and innovative technologies offer remarkable opportunities to gain a competitive advantage. We have developed a whole new fascinating manufacturing era, and we are yet to discover more. Radical technological innovation requires not only speed but also a clear vision, direction, and persistence.
Wrapping up
All the technologies we have discussed in this article cover a tiny portion. We are yet to witness many breakthrough technological innovations in the coming decade. Based on the sector you are in, it is crucial to implement the technologies that align with your manufacturing processes and drive productivity. It will help you to serve your customers better.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is new in manufacturing technology?
The manufacturing industry is always on the edge of evolution. It spans big data, artificial intelligence, advanced robotics, 3D printing, and other advanced manufacturing technologies that are increasing productivity and profitability. AI, 3-D printing, and IoT are changing the shape of the industry by improving the precision of the supply chain processes and the quality of the products. Robots increase the speed of production. Manufacturers are now able to supply high-quality products in a short time.
The newest advancements in manufacturing technology include more sophisticated VR (Virtual Reality) and AR (Augmented Reality), which help many industries communicate seamlessly. The latest 3D printing techniques can print much more complex things.
- What are the advanced manufacturing techniques?
Advanced manufacturing techniques are improving manufacturing processes and the output of products through innovation and speed. These techniques include the implementation of AI, nanotechnology, usage of VR and AR, usage of robots, and more. These techniques use advanced technologies to significantly increase the efficiency of production processes and the quality of the output. These advanced techniques, in a way, act as catalysts that boost the industry and economic growth.
- What is the future of manufacturing in India?
The Indian government recently announced that the country is one of the biggest manufacturing hubs and an attractive destination for foreign investors. With the nation realizing the importance of having its own manufacturing base. We rely a lot on other countries for various products. With the paradigm shift and technological transformation, many manufacturers and business people are stepping up for the ‘Make in India’ movement. The manufacturing sector in India will see considerable growth in the next couple of years.
