It’s no secret that modern technology has reshaped the vast majority of global industries as we know it. Although disruptive at first, adopting new technological solutions is very beneficial for industries of all kinds.
The fact of the matter is that such solutions can improve productivity, boost performance and reduce waste, as well as minimize human error so it’s only logical that various companies would want to adopt those technologies. The manufacturing industry is no exception in this matter.
That said, the manufacturing industry has been flourishing the last couple of years, especially thanks to modern technology that’s been adopted over the years. So with that in mind, let’s have a look at which modern technologies are used in the manufacturing industry today.
Advanced robotics
Robotic machines are a common sight in manufacturing plants these days. That said, modern robots use advanced technologies often powered by AI (Artificial Intelligence) that are configured to mass produce parts and other hardware in accordance with specific criteria.
Such machines are often used by marine parts manufacturers to produce certain components for boats and ships alike. Moreover, advanced robotics are programmed according to the lean manufacturing concept and principles which focuses on minimizing production waste and maximizing productivity.
In other words, robotic machines use pre-designed templates based on lean production methodology for manufacturing components so that all the materials are properly utilized and that production continues without any interruptions or inconveniences.
3D printing
3D printing became very popular, very fast and many industries saw the potential this new technology has to offer. Of course, this resulted in a much wider adoption that anyone originally anticipated. Today, various industries leverage 3D printing in their every day processes to create various parts and components using different materials.
This is especially true for manufacturing industry as it relies heavily on this software/hardware hybrid technology to produce lots of different products at a much faster rate than it would take to manually manufacture them.
Not to mention the fact that 3D printing technology has evolved greatly in a very short amount of time. Today, this technology can be used on a much larger scale to complement various manufacturing processes and workflows.
The Internet of Things (IoT)
The digital transformation of the manufacturing industry can be easily seen through wider adoption of IoT devices. These smart devices are often used in manufacturing plants.
Their ability to utilize sensors and other mechanisms to oversee production processes makes them an invaluable asset in the manufacturing industry. That said, IoT devices communicate with each other and can spot faulty products in a blink of an eye.
Not only that but these smart devices can monitor equipment and report any potential issues before they become a serious problem.
As you may already know, manufacturing equipment is very expensive to repair or replace so companies rely on IoT for early detection and any signs of malfunctioning in order to prevent any major damages to the equipment.
Augmented Reality (AR)
Although not vital to manufacturing processes per se, AR technology plays a pivotal role in employee training and education.
Employees can leverage 3D models in virtual environment to build components in real-time. What’s even more interesting, employees can be trained remotely using AR technology that simulates real life conditions without using any real equipment.
Therefore, even if mistakes are made, no vital equipment will be damaged or broken during the training process, which saves companies a lot of time and resources on properly educating future workers.
This not only makes the learning process much more effective but it also make is a lot faster. Employs get the best possible learning experience and are ready for the real job sooner rather than later.