Technology has emerged in just about every aspect of our lives. Its impact in the industry of manufacturing is no exception. The amount of data out there allows manufacturers to be more proactive when it comes to management and, if used correctly, can make the lives of manufacturers that much easier.
A good technology integration plan can increase the productivity of your facility, reduce unplanned downtime and, most importantly, make a positive impact on your bottom line. In manufacturing, for instance, if accidents due to multiple human contact are increasing, you can automate those labor-intensive tasks using technology, such as material handling systems, to reduce accidents. You can accomplish this by hiring a company that can make an appropriate Material Handling Design suitable for your manufacturing facility.
Without even the most basic technology, the vast majority of manufacturing processes today would not be possible. Thermocouples, like those described here, for example, are just one technology that we couldn’t live without. They may seem innocuous, but they’re vital for manufacturing glass, cement, medical devices, aviation, oil and gas. So many different types of thermocouples have been developed that they can be found in almost any manufacturing process. Without them, it would be impossible to measure extreme temperatures, meaning we’d struggle to manufacture even the most basic building materials you see in everyday life.
The next big thing in manufacturing is the use of artificial intelligence. Machines have been automating factory lines for decades, but AI is introducing a level of precision never seen before. It is being integrated into several stages of manufacturing. This includes data management, analytics, and quality assurance processes such as vision inspection systems and more. AI is also becoming more and more commonplace in manufacturing because of its ability to predict. This gives managers the ability to perform predictive maintenance. Predictive maintenance, with the help of AI, takes measurements from machine operations as they are occurring and uses this data to raise red flags when indications of a problem are noted. Unplanned downtime and reactive maintenance are productivity destroyers for your facility, yet almost all maintenance is, by necessity, reactive.
Predictive maintenance practices, however, can change that situation, making it even easier for you to be proactive and to make more informed decisions about what inventory to keep on hand. Data sensors and monitors can help you understand which equipment is more likely to need maintenance or replacement parts in the nearer future, making ordering decisions less of a guessing game and more of a data-backed methodology.
For more tips to develop or update your technology integration plan and other examples of technology’s role in manufacturing, check out the infographic below!
