Technology is slowly creeping into every aspect of our lives, allowing us to do things that were mere science fiction ideas only a decade ago. This is no different in the realm of manufacturing. The use of technology in manufacturing has exploded and is allowing factories to work smarter, more efficiently, and at lower costs than ever before.

We now seem to have technology like manufacturing traceability solutions, additive manufacturing, computerized maintenance systems, digital twins, automation integration and artificial intelligence, all making the manufacturing process easier if used correctly.

One of the technological advances include robots that perform assembly and material handling as well as dangerous or repetitive tasks; remote performance monitoring sensors that can track manufacturing cycles and sense possible maintenance issues; and computerized maintenance management systems, which help reduce the need for on-site personnel. These sensors can be integrated into conveyor belts and other critical Industrial Process Machinery systems. The accompanying resource describes some of the innovative ways that the manufacturing industry is relying on these advances.

Another area that is having a tremendous impact on manufacturers is the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). With IoT tech, machinery and devices can “talk” to each other in real-time and adjust accordingly. If a problem arises with a device, other equipments on the network are informed and react based on the situation. This means decreased downtime, less waste, and lower costs while keeping quality and output high.

Manufacturing and industrial domains also adopted automation into various operations, which has led to a more efficient and effective work process. Now, factories and manufacturing units can incorporate software like vision systems (or other in-house tools) for automated machine inspections, quality control, integrated production line, advanced data acquisition and processing, AI, specialized algorithm development, and more. This can help a manufacturing company to reduce project risks and human errors, along with streamlining operations while ensuring workplace safety, foremost.

The accompanying resource describes more of these technologies and the innovative ways that the manufacturing industry is relying on these advances. Truth be told, the latest innovations have highlighted the importance of technology in human lives, without which we would be as good as the primitive race of homosapiens. It is the use of science that has distinguished our present from the past when everything was dependent on luck. Today, we are no more relying on the luck factor. Instead, we have strived to become more rational and more logical about everything, That is why many in the manufacturing industry have gained an unsurmountable amount of success.