Manufacturing is changing faster than ever before.
Every year there are new technologies being introduced that can help you become more efficient, save you money and improve quality. Finding what you need through all the hype is the challenge.
The truth is:
Only some of them trends are worth following. The others are just smoke.
This article discusses important technology trends that are currently disrupting the manufacturing industry – and their impact on factories, employees and quality.
Let’s dive in.
In this guide:
- Why Manufacturing Is In The Middle Of A Tech Boom
- The Biggest Technology Trends To Watch
- How Vision Measurement Systems Are Changing Quality Control
- What The Future Looks Like For Manufacturers
Why Manufacturing Is In The Middle Of A Tech Boom
Manufacturing has always been slow to change. But that’s not the case anymore.
Factories across the globe are purchasing new technology faster than ever before. Why? Because they need to keep up. Increased expenses, labor shortages and consumer demands are driving manufacturers to adapt, or die trying.
Here’s what the numbers say:
63% of manufacturers are using technology to automate tasks and another 30% will be adding automation technology in the near future. That’s a significant change from where manufacturing was 5 years ago.
Money is also pouring into it as well. The smart manufacturing market is projected to increase from $223.6 billion to $985.5 billion by 2032. That’s over 4x in under 10 years.
Pretty wild, right?
Bottom line: Technology is no longer optional. Technology is how modern manufacturing facilities operate – vision measurement system tools such as VisionGauge®️ 500 series Digital Optical Comparators are driving that change at the shop floor level.
Now let’s look at the biggest trends driving all this change.
The Biggest Technology Trends To Watch
Buzzwords are swirling everywhere. These are the trends you should care about.
AI Is Finally Delivering Real Results
For years, AI in manufacturing was more talk than action.
Not anymore. Manufacturers are now using AI to:
- Predict when machines will break down
- Spot defects in real time
- Optimise supply chains
- Cut down waste
The cool thing? AI continues to learn while it works. Each new set of data improves it, so early adopters of AI in the factory setting will gain exponential advantage over their competition.
Granted … AI is not a silver bullet. It only performs well when used in conjunction with quality data and talented individuals. Manufacturers who approach AI expecting it to be plug-and-play are generally disappointed.
Smart Factories And IoT Sensors
Smart factory refers to a facility that fully integrates machines, sensors and software.
Here’s why that matters:
Once every piece of equipment is connected, operators have real-time visibility into every aspect of production. Managers identify bottlenecks, monitor energy consumption and detect issues before they become costly downtime.
IoT sensors are arguably the most important part of this entire puzzle. All of the data that AI, dashboards, predictive maintenance, etc. are analyzing comes from sensors. Without reliable sensor data, all of the other bells and whistles won’t do you any good.
Digital Twins
Digital twin is virtual replica of physical machine, product or whole factory.
Sounds high-tech, but it’s really quite simple. Engineers can experiment with modifications, run simulations and correct problems on the virtual model before handling the physical device. That can save a lot of time and money.
Digital twins are especially useful for:
- Testing new production line layouts
- Simulating equipment upgrades
- Training new workers safely
Robotics And Cobots
Robots used to be big, expensive and dangerous.
Enter Cobots (collaborative robots). Instead of being huge, self-contained systems, cobots are smaller and smarter. They can sit side-by-side with human employees – doing the repetitive work while the people focus on tasks of higher value.
Robot demand continues to skyrocket. Worker shortages across nearly every sector aren’t helping matters either.
How Vision Measurement Systems Are Changing Quality Control
Quality control used to mean a person with calipers, checking parts one by one.
That worked well enough when there were only small production runs. Once a factory is producing thousands of parts per hour, however, manual inspection doesn’t scale. This was the birth of the modern vision measurement system.
Here’s what makes it different:
Automated vision measurement systems incorporate cameras, optics and software to inspect parts. There’s no fatigue. No missed defects. No wasted time.
A good vision measurement system can:
- Measure parts down to the micron
- Inspect hundreds of items per minute
- Catch defects that the human eye would miss
- Store inspection data for future analysis
Another really neat aspect of these systems is that they can be embedded into the production line allowing for in-line quality assurance. Real time feedback means less scrap parts and down time for rework.
If you work in aerospace, medical devices and precision engineering industries, accuracy like this is not a luxury. Accuracy like this is a necessity.
What The Future Looks Like For Manufacturers
The next few years are going to be interesting for the manufacturing industry.
Here’s what to expect:
- More AI baked into every part of production
- Bigger investments in automation and robotics
- Tighter integration between machines and workers
- Higher standards for quality and traceability
Factories who embrace these trends early will have a huge advantage against those that don’t. Technology is becoming less expensive, easier to implement, and more powerful each year. “We’ll wait until it matures” is no longer a viable excuse.
However, don’t go chasing every shiny trend either. Select trends that address real problems in your plant and stick with them. That is how you will see ROI.
Bringing It All Together
Manufacturing is going through the biggest transformation in decades.
AI, smart factories, digital twins, robotics and vision measurement system technologies are all disrupting manufacturing operations – and those that embrace change will prosper.
To quickly recap:
- Tech adoption in manufacturing is accelerating fast
- AI and automation are leading the charge
- Vision measurement systems are transforming quality control
- Smart factories are becoming the new standard
- The future belongs to manufacturers who commit to modernising
The brands that succeed over the next 10 years will be those that embrace technology as part of their DNA – not an afterthought. Begin with one or two trends that make sense for your business and scale from there.
Technology is available. Now is the industry mature enough to use it correctly?
