There’s no doubt that technology plays a vital role in the world we live in, and the impact it makes on the evolution of the manufacturing industry is no exception. Once seen as the blue-collar industry, things have instantly changed in manufacturing due to technological advancements.
In addition to making it more interesting in terms of innovation, technology has demonstrated more efficient and quicker ways of operating, making it vital for the whole manufacturing process of countless industries.
Nowadays, the opportunities and challenges that new and upgraded technologies provide are a big part of the day-to-day operations of nearly all manufacturers around the world.
The tempo of technology adoption differs across different industries and sectors. For instance, the food and service industries have promptly adopted technology to introduce mobile apps for convenient ordering and delivery.
On the other hand, in the industrial sector, the Internet of Things (IoT) represents a powerful technology driving many of the changes we’ve seen since the introduction of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), offering significant benefits to manufacturers from various industries.
In reality, the sooner these upgrades are implemented, the better their benefits can be recognized, as these technological upgrades are proving necessary to keep up with the fierce competition.
If you are in the manufacturing industry and actively considering upgrading your manufacturing technology, here are our expert’s four technology upgrades that can scale up your business in 2020.
Embrace The Industrial Internet Of Things Trend
The Internet of Things (IoT) is the network of physical objects embedded with software, electronics, sensors, and network connectivity that enables these physical objects to obtain and exchange data.
The technology has its roots in industrial manufacturing, and smart manufacturers are implementing the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) to leverage data analytics, predictive maintenance, and more.
The IIoT can take intelligent devices and networked sensors and put those technologies to use directly on the manufacturing floor to collect data, store it wirelessly, and use machine learning and analytics to take various beneficial actions.
This modern-day technology is transforming the conventional linear manufacturing supply chains into dynamic, interconnected systems. The system makes factories more efficient and safer for human operators.
The connected machinery, commonly seen as a vital part of “Industry 4.0,” is the key driver of data collection benefits as described above. An excellent example of Industry 4.0 technologies can be made if you work in the metalworking industry that embraces the use of pipe bending machines such as automotive, aerospace, or windows and building facade engineering.
Thanks to the IIoT, even the most complex forms with demanding materials, can be manufactured with the help of the software-based digital control system for bending processes and custom-fit solutions for curved profiles’ efficient production.
Don’t just view the IIoT as something that you can ignore or catch up with later, or only as another buzzword. As more and more industrial manufacturers implement connected machinery and realize the beneficial part of the data they provide, it will become increasingly challenging to keep pace. Stay proactive, and don’t let yourself play catch-up on your competition.
Robotics And Automation
Even though automation has been used in manufacturing since the 1970s, the tremendous advances in technology have offered increased efficiency and output to manufacturing facilities in recent years.
Whereas there’ve been suggestions that robotics and automation could replace human workers in manufacturing, the truth is that robots are collaborative by nature and work alongside humans to improve the general efficiency of the manufacturing business.
Robotics and automation empower manufacturers to boost their productivity levels, lower the overall costs, improve workplace safety, and reduce errors and failure within the manufacturing processes. Adopting these technological advancements also facilitates human workers to use their expertise in high-level tasks, leaving the manual, tedious tasks to the machines.
Working With Wearables
Although the mention of wearables recalls a Star Trek-like image, not all of them are futuristic. Believe it or not, they can positively impact the manufacturing space of your company. This technology isn’t restricted to eye-based units, as these smart devices that are undoubtedly coming down in price, with a little creativity, can prove valuable in a lot of ways.
For example, a wearable can detect fatigue, and it can ping the supervisor to notify them to check if the worker is okay. According to a University of London study, wearable tech increased productivity among workers by 8.5% and raised job satisfaction levels by 3.5%.
The main goal of wearables is to recognize applications capable of enhancing production efficiency and workers’ safety. Wearables can play a crucial role in detecting how various environmental factors impact employees and manufacturing processes.
Consider Updating Your Marketing Technology And Don’t Neglect Digital Marketing
Updating technology outside the manufacturing floor has its benefits too. Marketing automation is a vast topic in business development, and for a great reason – marketing automation can enable your marketing and sales departments to operate more efficiently and effectively.
Make sure to update your company with the latest marketing automation tools and customer relationship management software, as it can help you organize better and track leads.
Latest marketing tactics like account-based marketing tools can be highly effective in curating targeted messaging to current clients and converting leads from those familiar with your manufacturing business.
Digital Marketing In 2020
Compared to marketing strategies used a decade ago, the way manufacturers market their business has changed dramatically. As distributors and other clients are increasingly using the online space to research and evaluate their options, make sure that your manufacturing business isn’t lacking a digital marketing strategy or you put yourself at the risk of not being found by eager prospects.
Make sure to consult with a reliable digital marketing agency to ensure that your manufacturing business rates highly on search engines for keywords associated with the company, so it can drive qualified traffic to your website. Also, make sure to have a visible contact form on your website so potential clients can easily communicate with you.
With the right digital marketing strategy, manufacturers can strengthen their brand awareness, differentiate themselves from competitors, create a voice for their brand, and position themselves as experts.
SEO, social media marketing, and inbound marketing are three essential elements of digital marketing for manufacturing businesses that want to scale up in 2020.
Final Thoughts
As technology is rapidly changing the manufacturing industry in many ways, strategic investments remain essential for every manufacturing business’s continued growth. Even if different aggregating strategies in diverse operations can be complicated and overwhelming, the process can help you see high returns in the increasingly competitive global marketplace.
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