The Future Trends That Will Shape Manufacturing
3 min readTable of Contents
It is fascinating to see how manufacturing evolves and changes over the years, especially at a time when there is so much change happening around the world. Manufacturing is constantly changing due to technological developments, consumer habits, new trends, and various global and economic factors. A lot has changed in the last few years as a result of the pandemic, but what does the future look like? This article will look at a few future trends that will likely emerge in the next few years in manufacturing and how they could change the industry and world.
Dark Factories
Robotics and automation have been on the rise in manufacturing for many years. Many manufacturing companies are now automating entire processes and using cobots alongside staff, but there will likely be a rise in dark factories in the next few years. Essentially, these are factories that are completely automated with no direct human interaction.
Augmented & Virtual Reality
Augmented and virtual reality are starting to become more common in manufacturing (and other industries), and this will continue in the coming years. There are many ways that these types of tech can be used in manufacturing, including improving product design, planning, staff training, and much more.
Sustainability
Climate change and environmental damage are major talking points right now, and companies are increasingly pressured to become more sustainable, especially in industrial fields like manufacturing. Manufacturing companies are going to have to make significant changes in the coming years to meet new regulations, keep modern consumers happy and reduce their impact. This will include things like utilizing solar power, cutting back on plastic, and increasing recycling.
Equipment Upgrades
As businesses evolve and change, their equipment will also have to change. A good example of this is conveyor belts, as businesses will benefit from replacement conveyor belts from places like fluentconveyors.com and ones that are custom-made for their specific operation. This will help to improve performance and efficiency and could help to take the business to new heights.
Blockchain
Like many industries, Blockchain technology is starting to find usage in manufacturing, which is likely to be a major trend in the years to come. Blockchain can help by improving visibility across the entire supply chain, simplifying quality checks, ensuring the provenance of materials, and machine-led maintenance, just as a few examples.
3D Printing
3D printing will also play a bigger role in the years to come and can help the manufacturing process in a few ways. 3D printing can be used for prototyping and the creation of small parts and could bring in a new age of customization, among other uses.
These are likely to be a few of the major future trends in manufacturing that will change the landscape. Manufacturing is a fascinating industry as it is constantly going through change and is often at the forefront of new technology, so it will be interesting to see what the next few years bring and how these trends will shape the industry.
