The Future of Manufacturing and How to Be Ready, Part II


Last week, we defined smart manufacturing and discussed its potential to radically change our industry. It got us wondering: what exactly would a company that is ready to take on the 4th Industrial Revolution look like?

Lucky for us (and for you), an excellent article by Larry Korak was published in Industry Week recently that discussed just that. Here some highlights from his list:

Common Traits of “Future-Ready” Manufacturers
  • An innovative mindset. If your company already supports out-of-the-box thinking and    encourages team members to contribute, you are ready to try news systems that are agile and flexible, allowing for easier rearrangements to the status quo when someone spots a better way to meet a goal.
  • A desire for up-to-date stats. With new tech, especially the Internet of Things, real-time data communicated between systems is becoming a reality on the shop floor, in the sales rooms, and more. If you already work with the most current data possible when making decisions, you are ready to take on real-time, highly detailed stats.
  • An automated work space. If your employees are already accustomed to working with automation to some degree, it will be much easier to further modernize your shop floor. This will waste fewer resources and minimize downtime, creating a more efficient environment.
  • The ability and willingness to collaborate. Engaging with partners and customers to allow for participation in product development will help prepare you for the increase in user input that projected consumer trends demand and that smart systems can bring. 
If you feel that you are ready to start making the transition to becoming a smarter manufacturer, consider the advice given in a report from the research firm McKinsey: “The age of experimentation with digital is over. To stay competitive, companies must […] commit to transforming themselves to full digital business.”

The time is now, let’s join the future!

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