#53-Top 15 technologies that will disrupt manufacturing in the post-pandemic world
The manufacturing sector unlike the ‘big-techs’ and the ‘Consumer tech’ sector does not get much attention.
To a layman, it sounds a bit trite and is considered as the domain of the engineers and factory workers. Yet, all the physical goods that we see or use have been manufactured or processed to give it a shape of a finished product.
The supply chains are almost invisible to the consumer who simply just buys the physical goods via retail or e-commerce channels.
In this piece, I am sharing top technologies that will disrupt manufacturing in the post-pandemic world.
COVID has accelerated Digitization and Automation by almost 5–10 years across sectors (including manufacturing) as per various expert views.
So What is the future of manufacturing? 5 imperatives for CXO/CDO’S
I have written previously on this topic as well, but let me share few top thoughts for the CXO’s/CDO’S:
- Complete automation is inevitable. It will start by augmenting the current workforce day to day operation and in the end substitute all mechanical and repetitive tasks like-lift, put and shift.
- The Developed countries will see the manufacturing tech adoption first due to technology available as well as the high cost of labor.
- Emerging markets like China and India will follow soon (they already are experiencing plant-automation drives across industries). The labor is still cheap and hence the inflection point for 100% factory automation adoption has been delayed.
- Every CDO/CXO must already know the plant economics and what is the opportunity cost for preponing/delaying complete automation
- Humans cannot compete on efficiency with AI-powered, robots that have attained complete dexterity. Reskill your plant labor and help them move to more specialist roles.
- Keep a scorecard of how many manufacturing technologies are you deploying at your plants at scale and what is the ROI?
Automation may take a lot of dead-end jobs away but it may also create a lot of new jobs, but a lot of blue-collar jobs are definitely in danger of elimination over the next 10–15 years (by 2030–2035 completely automated plans will be the new normal). There will be minimal supervisory or specialist staff.
Check out JD’s fully automated warehouse
What are the top technologies that the manufacturers (industrials, HVAC, logistics, and consumer goods companies aggressively going after?
- Industrial Robotics and design systems- Product R&D, design and manufacturing
- Warehouse and packaging bots- Move, Pack and deliver to the customer
- AI/ML predictive analytics- Data-driven decision making, to measure productivity of units and factory floors, predictive maintenance
- Sensors, Computer Vision and Video Analytics for monitoring- Managing floor safety for workers and machinery
- Intelligent Edge and connected sensors- Real-time computing and data flow.
- Automated/intelligent Cloud- How to manage the multi and hybrid cloud integration, optimize the data lake.
- Exo-Skelton tech- Suits that enhance the workers efficiency
- 3D printing- Raw material independence to minimize procurement and supplier risk
- Inventory Management Systems — What and how much to produce and stock where?
- Digital Twins and Digital Threads- How to handle and operate heavy industrial machines via simpler digital twins and to locate inefficiencies, machine breakdown spot, and anomalies.
- Factory wearables — Optimize the safety and efficiency of the factory workers
- Industrial AR/VR tech- The technology can convert generalists into product and machine specialists. The step by step instructions can be explained via AR/VR tech. 5g coupled with AR/VR tech even powers remote monitoring and maintenance.
- ERP Systems — All the plant’s resource systems ranging from procurement, people and production can be optimized via simplified integration of software and systems.
- Energy management platforms- Energy and cost efficiencies can be optimized via these platforms. Plants are moving towards renewables and there is pressure to be carbon neutral.
- Cockpit Platforms for real-time decision making- All the decisions related to the production plant at a site or within a region can be controlled via centralized control systems.
All these technologies to be protected by strong firewalls of cybersecurity and anti-hacking systems.
Manufacturing will move towards complete automation. The shift is irreversible.
Best regards,
Sidhartha Sharma (views are personal)
Digital Platform and Ecosystem Expert
