The 2022 State of Good Manufacturing report recognized numerous key {industry} developments. In the event that they proceed at their present tempo, what do these developments imply for the long run? Let’s check out this hypothetical however not-so-futuristic story via the lens of Plex CTO Jerry Foster:
As head of operations at a serious manufacturing facility, Maria was conflicted about introducing sweeping know-how and automation modifications however knew that the previous method of doing issues wouldn’t place the corporate for future success. With labor shortages, provide chain disruption, and more and more extra agile competitors, the established order would result in decreased earnings, if not outright failure.
As a part of a pilot program, Maria’s firm had lately invested in a brand new fleet of autonomous guided autos (AGVs) that transfer product across the plant flooring, chopping out repetitive, tedious, and harmful duties and filling roles that her firm had been struggling to fill for years.
Her firm additionally owned and operated factories around the globe. Although skeptical at first, her colleagues in Indonesia and firm leaders at headquarters had modified their tune when testing a distant help functionality that eradicated an ongoing concern with out the necessity for a specialised technician to be on-site. By utilizing augmented actuality units, an engineer from Maria’s plant was capable of diagnose the persistent concern, coordinate with on-site technicians to provide an tailored half via 3D printing, and set up the brand new half to resolve the problem completely in beneath per week – a process that will have beforehand taken months or have been altogether inconceivable.
The know-how investments described right here required upfront price, cautious planning, and alter administration. Inside a yr, the techniques paid for themselves with nearly quick payback. Inside two years, Maria’s firm had saved $1.3 million {dollars} from the efficiencies gained, together with:
- Useful resource redeployment from synthetic intelligence-assisted scheduling
- Materials reductions from a brand new generative design course of
- Provide chain changes using an industry-driven blockchain
- Activity and course of automation carried out by linked techniques
Whereas Maria’s world could seem far-fetched, many of those applied sciences are already in-use and powered by cloud-based software program options supporting enterprise useful resource planning (ERP), manufacturing execution techniques (MES), high quality administration techniques (QMS), manufacturing monitoring, and provide chain planning (SCP). Some ideas introduced listed here are awaiting a next-phase improvement together with availability, sturdiness, and/or price enchancment to achieve widespread adoption. Like in Maria’s case, know-how adoption choices usually are not an-all-or-nothing selection, however reasonably a willingness to take one step in the direction of bettering enterprise, after which one other step, and nonetheless one other step.
Begin your journey immediately by studying the seventh Annual State of Good Manufacturing Report.
