The manufacturing business is said to have recently undergone a tectonic shift. There are many reasons for this. However, the chief among them is the advancements in various technologies. These technologies have now made themselves entirely indispensable for the day-to-day running of businesses all across the board.
The following are potentially disruptive technologies that could change the entire dynamics of the manufacturing industry.
The Internet of Things
Perhaps one of the most obvious technological advances on this list, ‘the Internet of Things,’ represents much more than just an internet connection between lots and lots of machines. It represents interconnectivity at its finest.
Smart devices can pass information back and forth with each other without human interference. IoT has already been used very successfully by many businesses to automate entire supply chains, with the bonus of allowing manufacturers to streamline their business practices for maximum profits.
The Ushering of Autonomous Vehicles
There’s no doubt that manufacturing companies are now having to rethink the way they do things.
Not only must they keep up with technology, but now governments worldwide are constantly moving towards making human labor obsolete whenever possible. There has already been a huge move towards autonomous vehicles in many industries, including mining, farming, and even military operations.
However, this trend does have some potentially calamitous repercussions if it is allowed to run rampant. Who’ll operate heavy machinery if there isn’t anyone else around? On top of that, there’s also the issue of insurance premiums skyrocketing should autonomous vehicles become the norm – who should foot the bill if one of these things ends up crashing?
3D Printing Becomes More Affordable
The introduction of 3D printers has been credited with completely revolutionizing the manufacturing industry. 3D is providing an opportunity for businesses to produce goods without the need for expensive factory space.
These small devices are now becoming more affordable than ever before, which is good news for companies looking to branch out into entirely new markets. We expect there will soon be even more innovative uses for 3D printers, probably involving robots that can print entire houses.
Virtual Reality Gaining Ground
Virtual reality was hyped-up for what seemed like an eternity, only to then disappear into the background and be replaced by augmented reality.
However, there’s no doubt that VR has still got some very big things in store for it. If nothing else, this is a technology that will allow manufacturers to understand better the products they are designing.
Breakthroughs in Clean Energy Technologies
The production process for many goods is not exactly an environmentally sound one. Some businesses are rightly getting bad press because of how much pollution their factories create. However, this situation could be about to change thanks to breakthroughs in clean energy technologies, but these solutions need a NetSuite partner to help factories improve operation efficiencies.
Doctors recently discovered that the use of hydrogen fuel cells reverses aging. This is something that will have implications for batteries and other forms of power storage.
If used correctly, clean energy could mean more than just less pollution; it could also help manufacturers cut costs by reducing overall operational expenses.
Rapid Customization
Customization is one of the biggest buzzwords out there right now, with manufacturers looking for new ways to diversify their products.
Not just in terms of looks, but also function. Thanks to rapid prototyping technologies being put into place by companies like NetSuite, it’s easier than ever before for manufacturers to create cheap prototypes that help them test out different ideas and concepts so they can decide what works best.
This technology has made customization much simpler too. Instead of waiting months or even years for a product to be manufactured or modified, customizations can often take mere hours. This will enable manufacturers to diversify faster than ever before!
The Arrival Of Flexible Screens
If you haven’t heard already, flexible screens are all across the board. Being used for everything from foldable phones to robot brains.
These little beauties have many applications in the manufacturing industry – not least of which is readability in harsh environments. Not only that, but flexible screens are also thinner than their predecessors, which means less space is wasted during the design process.
Blockchain Gaining Ground
Do you remember what people were saying about Bitcoin back when it first became popular? Well, now Blockchain technology – the thing that makes cryptocurrency like Bitcoin is gaining ground for its potential uses outside currency transactions.
A public ledger with transaction records dating back to the beginning of time; what more could you possibly ask for? This new way of storing information has some truly far-reaching implications for manufacturers – not least of which is reduced transaction costs.
The Blockchain is becoming very important for businesses of all kinds.
Manufacturers will be able to use it to store vast amounts of information, making performing accurate quality checks much easier. Not only that, but the Blockchain also allows users to perform quick transactions across national borders – great news for many companies involved in international trade.
Artificial Intelligence and Manufacturing
Although AIs are still largely confined to research laboratories and university campuses, there is no doubt that they’re making headway into more ‘everyday jobs, particularly the manufacturing industry.
We’ve already had some success stories with automated machines working together in perfect harmony with human workers on car production lines, with plans being put in place to build entire factories consisting entirely of robots sometime in the future; this is an idea that will have some huge implications for manufacturing businesses in the years to come.
Drones
Certain manufacturers already use drones to perform tasks that would be far too dangerous – or time-consuming – to do by hand. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg for this technology. Thanks to their ability to fly, drones could prove invaluable for inspecting things like wind turbines, electricity cables, and even oil rigs. Plus, these flying machines don’t need breaks – they can work 24 hours a day without complaining once!
Human Augmentation
While it may seem a little futuristic, human augmentation is already happening – although not quite as expected. For instance, surgeons have been using robotic arms to help them carry out procedures that would otherwise be impossible by hand; but that’s just the tip of the iceberg for this exciting new technology! Manufacturers are already looking into how they can use things like brain implants and even wearable computers during their design process; with these enhancements in place, humans might soon become the most valuable assets on the production line.
Reusable Rockets
Space may have been the final frontier for many of us. However, it’s no longer an impossible dream, thanks to reusable rockets!
For instance, SpaceX has made huge strides forward in its quest to make space more accessible by building a fully reusable rocket – one that can be launched into space multiple times with ease. This is good news for manufacturers, who will be able to transport goods at a much lower cost – which will allow companies to concentrate on other areas of production instead of having to worry about the logistics side of things.