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What Is Manufacturing Technology? By the Industry
Step into any modern manufacturing plant, and you’re bound to encounter remarkable levels of efficiency, productivity, and data-gathering. These economic centers of commerce rely heavily upon innovative technological advancements that analyze and optimize every facet of production, from one end of the supply chain to the other.
Across industries, manufacturing technology paves the way forward, enabling companies large and small to improve their output every step of the way.
The guide below examines the individual aspects of today’s manufacturing technology to understand how practices have evolved and what challenges remain. As you learn more about specific examples of manufacturing technology, explore how those solutions can be — and currently are — applied across industries.
Through advanced manufacturing technology, companies can leverage the insights they’ve gathered to benefit everyone involved, including the consumer.
What Is Manufacturing Technology?
Nearly every product in your home is the result of manufacturing processes that involve raw materials, computer systems, automation, and vast amounts of data. Manufacturing technology streamlines the basic process of turning raw goods into sellable products to maximize a company’s return on investment.
Equipment, computer software, and tools comprise the bulk of manufacturing technology companies use to market a product.
4 Examples of Manufacturing Technology
Advanced manufacturing technology incorporates the latest improvements to achieve the same goals — namely, productivity, sustainability, and efficiency.
The newest evolution of industrial manufacturing — known as Industry 4.0 — integrates artificial intelligence, the cloud, automation, and sensor-fed data to help inform manufacturing decisions from design to distribution.
Here are four examples of manufacturing technology in action.
Internet of Things (IoT) Devices
The term “internet of things” refers to Wi-Fi-connected devices that communicate to share information, such as your smartphone, laptop, or iPad.
Through 5G networks, these IoT devices compile sensor input to continuously monitor quality control and address issues as they arise. IoT devices can also be integrated into predictive maintenance tasks to ensure machines are in proper working order.
Sensors and the Cloud
The data gathered by sensors and shared via IoT devices can be saved to the cloud for almost anyone to access. Supervisors can access real-time views of machinery and equipment to increase efficiency and assist with troubleshooting if necessary. Performance can also be optimized through the use of a digital twin.
Augmented Reality (AR)
Many manufacturing plants rely on computer-aided processes, especially along the assembly line. With the help of augmented reality, line workers can visually access data overlaid across their environment. Such data comes in handy when troubleshooting and can also boost productivity.
AI and Machine Learning
The manufacturing industry has greatly benefited from implementing automation in areas such as material handling, packaging, and welding. AI can also perform data analysis and visual inspections to ensure product quality. Machine learning also plays a significant role in supporting predictive maintenance.
How Do Industries Use Manufacturing Technology?
Siemens’ report on The True Cost of Downtime 2024 reveals that unplanned downtime costs 500 of the world’s largest companies a combined $1.4 trillion (11% of their revenue) annually. Manufacturing technology can not only help avoid unplanned downtime but also optimize runtime.
Here are a few examples of industries that use manufacturing technology:
- Aerospace: Though testing within Earth’s gravity may not precisely mirror conditions above the atmosphere, aerospace companies use manufacturing technology — specifically robots — to repetitively perform intricate and complex processes.
- Automotive: Robots manipulate heavy vehicle frames along automotive assembly lines to increase efficiency, but additive manufacturing — such as 3D printing — keeps prototyping costs low in the early design stages.
- Packaging: Sustainable packaging assists companies in reducing production costs, but achieving such green designs often starts with 3D printing viable options during the prototyping stage or integrating smart labels on a large scale.
- Heavy equipment: Data analysis, sensors, and digital twinning allow companies to establish and support predictive maintenance procedures to reduce downtime and allocate resources accordingly, a vital part of any industry that involves heavy equipment or complex machinery.
From aerospace to heavy machinery, industrial oil keeps the gears of innovation turning, literally, by minimizing friction, reducing wear, and ensuring peak performance in high-demand manufacturing environments.
Additional manufacturing technologies contribute to successful production across multiple industries beyond those listed above. As necessity dictates innovation, groundbreaking technologies tend to spill over into other areas of production to perform similar functions and achieve equally beneficial results.
What Are the Benefits and Drawbacks of Manufacturing Technology?
Despite a common underlying purpose of streamlining operations, all manufacturing technology claims its share of pros and cons.
Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages manufacturing technology offers.
Benefits
Manufacturing technology has proven itself many times over as a beneficial solution to modern companies' challenges during production.
The benefits of manufacturing technology include the following:
- Store, share, and access data from the cloud
- Enable a safer workplace
- Reduce costly errors
- Enhance efficiency and quality
- Monitor machinery in real time
- Boost productivity
- Allow greater flexibility in responding to market changes
Drawbacks
As with any lasting solution, manufacturing technology does require certain compromises, including:
- Robotics and automation can result in job displacement
- Integrating old and new methods requires troubleshooting
- Training employees costs time and money
- Implementing newer technologies requires step initial set-up costs
- Technologies require predictive and preventative maintenance
- Robust security protects against cyber attacks
Rely on Cadence for Critical Support
Manufacturing technology plays a vital role in any business and across industries. Let Cadence support your production line with safety and integrity through a results-driven, team-based approach.
Call 336-629-2061 to speak with a friendly representative to learn more about our industry-leading solutions backed by an unwavering focus on people, distribution, and excellence.
Sources:
About Advanced Manufacturing | U.S. Centers For Disease Control and Prevention