How Will Manufacturing Facilities Change in the Next 10 Years?
Manufacturing is a rapidly changing industry. With constantly updating technology and a shift in the industry in response to COVID-19, the outlook for the next ten years has been rapidly changing and coming into focus. Industrial machinery and robotics are evolving to streamline production and change with the tides as we progress into the new century.
Read on to learn more about the ways manufacturing facilities will change in the coming years.
How will Manufacturing Evolve?
Predictive Maintenance Will Take the Forefront
Predictive maintenance uses computer AI and sensors installed throughout production lines to proactively alert operators of potential maintenance issues or failures. If manufacturers can stay on top of potential issues, there will likely be less downtime and issues with production.
As technology advances, manufacturers are not just purchasing newer industrial machines and robots with these sensors but installing them on older equipment. Manufacturers that have done this are able to analyze data and then interpret a machine’s condition, fix machines before they break or fail, and find irregularities that may lead to downtime.
Real-Time Manufacturing
Over the past few years with the effect that COVID-19 had on production facilities, many industries are moving to a thinner and scaled-back inventory. Automation and AI are helping manufacturers keep only what is necessary on the shelves and using their current technologies, machines, and industrial robots to keep supplies moving through the production line as soon as they enter the building.
Efficiency will be ramp up and create more space in a warehouse, allowing companies to expand and increase production.
Infection Control through Automation
Coronavirus changed the way many businesses functioned and influenced the way employers looked at health issues within their facility. Masks, hand sanitizers, and additional health protocols were put in place across the world in order to curb the spreading virus, and many of those are still in place today. And one of the biggest moves that companies made included adding robots to their assembly lines and production facilities.
Industrial robots and machines don’t get sick, and therefore don’t take sick days or need recovery time. Many manufacturers have implemented automation and replaced human workers with robots as a preventative measure, should a worldwide pandemic strike again. Production can be maintained with industrial automation, and human interaction can stay contained and limited.
As technologies grow, robots and automation replacements are becoming increasingly widespread. Today, there are even fully-automated factories and job sites known as “dark factories” that require no direct human interaction on-site.
Working with Robots
Manufacturers aren't just looking to replace their employees with robots, but they are also searching for ways to integrate robots with their employees. These “cobots” work side-by-side with humans in warehouses and production lines in collaborative environments.
Not only can cobots assist with efficiency, but they also aid in maintaining safety protocols, performing tasks like heavy lifting or working with extreme heat sources without risk of injury. Intelligent robots can work in tandem with employees on the floor, speeding up production and increasing efficiency.
Sustainability Focus
Manufacturers are moving toward greener and more sustainable production methods, thanks not only to public pressure and scrutiny, but also government efforts like the Clean Water and Clean Air Acts. Refurbishment of existing robots and machinery keeps costs, as well as environmental impacts, low.
Buying used machinery reduces carbon dioxide emissions, and other types of pollution, and can be updated to fit seamlessly into production lines. When an industrial machine can no longer be used, companies are learning how to properly dispose of machines without just tossing them out with the trash.
Our partner HGR works to recycle up to 95% of most industrial machines that cannot be resold or repurposed, helping to keep pollutants out of landfills and the environment.
NRTC Automation Keep You Updated
NRTC Automation ensures our customers are at the forefront of changes in the industry and keeping with up-to-date technology.
Whether we are helping to update and automate your facility, or designing a custom part for your newly refurbished industrial robot, NRTC can assist businesses in moving forward. To learn more about how our services could positively impact your production, visit our website.