Manufacturing Sector: Key Technology Trends to Shape 2022 and Beyond
Published on : Sunday 13-02-2022
There is a perception that these cutting-edge technology and smart devices are pricey, yet the benefits they provide outweigh the costs, says Rajesh Khosla.
In 2022, the manufacturing industry is expected to see specific essential changes, which can drive innovation and keep organisations competitive. Advances, such as smart sensors and immersive technology machines, have surfaced since Covid-19.
Human resources, talent gaps and supply chain interruptions were all issues the manufacturing industry had to face during the pandemic. The manufacturing industry has been attempting to adapt and implement technological breakthroughs to minimise waste and maximise profits by world-class manufacturing products. Among these trends are the following:
Artificial Intelligence and Applied Analytics
In manufacturing, artificial intelligence (AI) will be used more, with a focus on quality control. The use of AI for visual inspection of parts at various phases of the product development process and throughout the manufacturing and assembly processes is promising. It is common to randomly select a limited number of manufactured items and inspect them for any possible flaws or differences in quality. Since all manufactured parts are not tested in this technique, some features may have undiscovered faults. The use of AI enables extremely high inspection rates to be performed on all manufactured parts, resulting in increased productivity and fewer opportunities for defective items to go undetected. Automating parts, quality checks and machine, process and system health monitoring is possible. One of the essential aspects of smart manufacturing in 2022 and beyond is intelligent quality control systems.
Artificial intelligence will play an essential role in manufacturing companies' pull systems, which allows them to use customer data to create more personalised products. Customers willing to share their preferences will see an increase in AI-based mass customisation and personalisation.
Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)
For real-time monitoring of manufacturing operations, predictive maintenance, material handling, supply chain, inventory, assembly, etc., the Internet of Things (IoT) and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) are progressively contributing value to production. Data created by IoT and IIoT systems is growing at an ever-increasing rate, as more sensors are included in the entire manufacturing value chain, and the popularity of these systems continues to rise. Big data created through real-time monitoring necessitates data analytics to make timely judgments and improvements. Also, by integrating AI, edge computing and cloud computing into data analytics, manufacturing productivity may be considerably increased. Predicting what customers want and need is becoming imperative as the demand for new items grows faster. Manufacturers who are prepared for the future will increasingly rely on cutting-edge analytics. To do this, a well-planned, continuous improvement strategy is necessary.
Automation is becoming a viable option
Automation hasn't been considered an option for manufacturing items by certain firms since they lack the financial resources required for the first investment. Technological advancements and innovations are lowering the cost of automation. A growing number of industrial firms may now take full advantage of the precision, consistency, efficiency and productivity of automation. Automation is also becoming more and more attractive to manufacturers as it is powered by IoT, IIoT, data analytics and AI. Investing in automation will be made more attractive by the success of organisations that have already implemented it. It's time for manufacturing organisations to make more data-driven decisions and figure out what to automate based on their priorities and the value they're creating. However, in 2022, more organisations will prioritise automation to remain competitive, but not every task should be automated.
Nearshoring of the supply chain
In 2020 and 2021, the supply chain faced several significant issues. We might expect further difficulties in manufacturing due to supply-chain issues. Some of the supply chain challenges are best addressed by manufacturers using local suppliers. It could raise product costs, but the end result will be enhanced customer satisfaction. Because of this, onshoring is expected to continue in 2022 as a part of a worldwide-to-regional strategy. This tendency will drive the concept of local or distributed manufacturing, which is a customer-centric approach to satisfy ever-increasing customer expectations.
Another benefit is that a dispersed supply chain and logistics will reduce single-sourcing dependency and improve resilience and reliability in the face of rapid change and instability. To remain competitive in cost, quality and delivery time, manufacturing organisations reassess their current business models and strategies. In 2022, manufacturing companies should think about automating supply chain processes, utilising the power of partnership and collaboration, using omnichannel systems, realising effective and efficient inventory management powered by digital technologies for greater visibility, flexibility and resiliency.
Smart devices can communicate with one other through the Internet
Systems and more intelligent equipment are built on top of today's smart devices. An organisation's success depends on accurate and timely information available through these technologies. As a result, every industry is searching for more intelligent technologies and goods. It establishes a web of data that numerous users can access at various points throughout the operational chain.
Conclusion
There is a perception that these cutting-edge technology and smart devices are pricey, yet the benefits they provide outweigh the costs. A factory's current operating model is given a boost by connecting it to other smart equipment in the building, which allows it to establish essential communication, processing and control capabilities. Computers can collect data on the machine's health, the number of raw materials, the productivity of the labour, and the duration of production with the help of these smart gadgets. Once the data has been collected, it is possible to make the appropriate decisions at the right time, resulting in enhanced uptime, improved manufacturing agility, greater safety and lowered costs.
The future of manufacturing lies in the hands of technology, innovation and digital adoption. Research on IoT and data science in the manufacturing sector is needed. New applications and solutions are being discovered every day. We'll see how these developments impact manufacturing in new and exciting ways in the coming years. The manufacturing industry must leverage technology to grow.
Rajesh K Khosla is President & CEO of AGI glaspac, a part of Packaging Products Division (PPD) at HSIL Limited, makers of the iconic brand ‘Hindware’. Mr Khosla brings to the table a passion for business development that reflects in his stellar work ethic that focuses on practical implementation, his end-to-end approach towards business growth that entails employee development, financial analysis, and debottlenecking. His ability to create convergence between innovation and creativity has helped the PPD business at HSIL to scale newer heights. Mr Khosla is the Current Chairman of EFSI for Telangana & Andhra Pradesh Region.
