In the manufacturing industry, technology provides precision, efficiency, consistency, speed, and enhanced quality. This helps business owners preserve resources and meet market demands faster. The link between business, innovation, and the application of technological tools is tightly intertwined and indispensable. No doubt, technology has an invaluable impact on the manufacturing industry. On that note, this article lists four tech innovations that are impacting the manufacturing industry.
1. 3D Printing
In the 1980s, this technology was still largely experimental. It was mostly applicable for the production of aesthetic prototypes. Nowadays, thanks to the advances made in the technology, its application has been enhanced. 3D printing is now more precise and encompasses various printing techniques. It can also deliver consistent quality in bulk production. Presently, big manufacturers like Boeing and General Electric are applying it in their processes.
One main advantage of this technology is the ability to create complex shapes and designs. One industry this is pertinent in is plastics molding manufacturing. In the past, hiring a skilled crafts person (to make a mold for the design) was the norm. However, no matter how experienced the artisan was, specific designs were impossible and, worse yet, time and resource-consuming. Luckily, with 3D printing, you can configure the specific details to meet your product requirements. You’ll get what you desire with fewer errors.
2. Tailored Software
Software has been available since the invention of the modern computer. At that time, it was limited in scope and was often restricted to specific systems and platforms. Nowadays, things have drastically improved thanks to modern coding techniques and tools. The introduction of cloud computing has also contributed significantly to these advances. There is a software solution for every manufacturing and administrative process. One good example is the CPQ (Configure Price Quote) software.
CPQ can help a manufacturing company swiftly go about its sales operations and can also offer a rapid turnaround time when issuing bulk sales quotes or individual price quotes to clients or prospective customers. There are several generic versions of this on the market. However, the best CPQ solution is often customized to your manufacturing business’s specifications and workflow.
3. Analytics
This next software plays a vital role in the manufacturing industry. With such software, you can readily identify your businesses’ strengths and weaknesses, in addition to the buying habits of customers. Once done, it’ll be easier to understand the next steps to take and make the right decisions for business growth.
Analytics software also offers details about product capabilities to ensure quality, optimize supply chains, increase yield and performance, and reduce costs. The application of these tools is not limited to just the manufacturing process. You can also apply it to the entire sales process. You’ll get the right knowledge concerning the dynamics of your sales. This will also help your sales team or sales rep deliver the appropriate customer support for overall business growth.
4. IoT (The Internet of Things)
Soon, we’ll have to say goodbye to all manual processes. This is due to the technology that allows machines and devices to communicate with each other. This technology is commonly known as the Internet of Things. Think about your smartphone and how it readily helps you solve issues. Yes, that’s how this technology works. It’s complicated and uses highly sophisticated processes like wireless sensor networks, embedded systems, real-time analytics, etc.
The advantages of IoT are vast. You’re guaranteed consistent, top-notch quality, efficiency, speed, accuracy, less expenditure, and convenience. It also aids with diagnostics, maintenance, and early detection of faults, which can be quickly fixed once noticed. If you have identical machinery, it can readily adjust when one is faulty. This comes with a huge advantage of adaptation instead of halting the entire production process.
