Top 4 Factory Related Trends to Keep in Mind
There’s a lot of uncertainty in the world right now, but one thing is for sure – that this pandemic WILL end (even if the timeframe is unknown). The need for essential goods continues even during this trying time and factories all over the world have been and will continue to produce. Perhaps it will be at a slower pace, but technology will keep developing and advancing and it’s worth keeping an eye on the factory-related trends that are still expected in 2020.
1. Machine Learning
As computers are getting smarter, they can surpass what humans can do when it comes to analyzing data, especially in 3 key ways: speed, scale and convenience. Computers can analyze huge sets of factory data in a matter of minutes – clearly much faster and at a greater scale than any human data analyst can do. Due to advances in machine learning, the tools are becoming more intuitive and reliable, making them much more convenient to use and therefore more popular.
If you haven’t already, now is a good time to start thinking about how you might incorporate machine learning and advanced data analytics tools into your factory.
2. Wearables
Wearable devices are becoming more common across industries and you can expect to see uses for them in your factory as well. According to MarketWatch, the market for wearable devices in the manufacturing industry will grow 73% by 2023 to $2.6 billion. This equipment will arm factory workers with sophisticated technology that will automatically collect data, track activities and provide guidance and assistance to ensure better safety. All of this from a pair of glasses or other wearable device. These devices will bring a new level of efficiency to the factory – for example, whoever is wearing the device can receive real-time instructions on how to use a machine in a more efficient way, taking into account things like the position that s/he is standing in, distance from the machine, etc.
Introducing wearable devices into your factory can have a big impact on issues such as training, productivity, and more.
3. New Skills for Workers
We know that there may be up to 2.4 million unfilled manufacturing jobs by 2028 and that it’s not high unemployment fates that are to be feared when it comes to factory-workers, but rather the lack of the right skills needed to fill the available jobs.
Manufacturing is changing and so are the training and skills that can make a factory worker successful. The newer generation should be focusing on more technical skills – using 3D printers, for example, or conducting advanced data analysis with the help of machine learning.
Consider providing continuing education or advanced training for your factory workers to ensure they are up to speed on the right skills.
4. Sustainability
We’ve talked about corporate social responsibility before and it’s probably safe to say that this will become even more of a hot topic in 2020. The upside to the social distancing and closing of workplaces due to the Coronavirus is a reduction in pollution. This could be a positive impact that lasts beyond the end of the pandemic as more efforts are made – with the help of more advanced technology in manufacturing – to focus on sustainability and environmental-friendliness in factories.
Start thinking of ways that your factory can decrease waste, work more efficiently, and go green in other ways.
In Conclusion…
While it’s impossible to predict what the future will bring, there is plenty of time for reflection and to create a plan for how to proceed once life resumes its normal pace. Thinking about these trends that will impact your factory now will put you ahead of the curve in the long run.