MANUFACTURERS EVERYWHERE SHARE SMART TECHNOLOGY HOPES AND FEARS A recent global survey of manufacturers carried out by Rockwell Automation reveals some common themes that affect industrial companies wherever they are in the world. The survey of 1,353 manufacturers in 13 countries found, for example, that more than 40% are struggling to keep ahead of their rivals due to a lack of suitable technologies and skilled workers. The findings of the eighth annual State of Smart Manufacturing Report * will be welcomed by advocates of advanced manufacturing. It found that almost all (97%) of the manufacturers quizzed are using, or are planning to use, smart manufacturing technologies in the coming 1-2 years. Almost half (45%) cite “improving quality” as the main benefit they expect to achieve, while cyber-attacks are the biggest obstacle they are hoping to overcome. Of those that have already embraced some elements of smart manufacturing, 54% are using it for production monitoring, 51% for quality management and 49% for ERP. The manufacturers say they are adopting advanced technologies to reduce risks, build resilience, enable agility, increase sustainability, and address workforce challenges. This report analyses feedback from respondents with roles ranging from managers to the top-floor executives. It covers the discrete, process, and hybrid sectors, and firms with revenues from $10m to more than $10bn. Other findings are that: n at least 50% more manufacturers are using machine learning and AI (artificial intelligence) technologies than were doing so a year ago; n 89% of the manufacturers are planning to maintain or expand their workforces as a result of adopting new technologies, while 36% believe that increased use of technology will allow them to redeploy their workers; n for a third of manufacturers, the wide choice of available systems and platforms is leading to “technology paralysis” – an inability to choose between them; n 79% of respondents are not doing end-to-end supply chain planning; n compared to 2022, twice as many manufacturers now fear that their organisations lack the technology needed to outpace their rivals; and n more than two thirds of manufacturers believe that advanced technology can help them to address workforce challenges. “The survey found that smart manufacturing technology is enabling manufacturers of all sizes to optimise more resilient, agile, and sustainable solutions that accelerate transformation,” comments Veena Lakkundi, Rockwell’s senior vice-president for corporate strategy and development. “If we’ve learned anything from history, it’s that organisations that invest in innovation during times of uncertainty can outpace their competitors.” So, while manufacturers see many potential benefits from adopting advanced technologies, they are also aware of potential problems. One thing is clear: manufacturers who opt not to go smart, could get left behind. Tony Sacks, Editor * The report can be downloaded via https://drivesncontrols.news/nykov5 Design, manufacturing & lifecycle solutions built around you • Product Design & Development • Industrialisation • Micro-Opto-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (MOEMS) Assembly • Printed Circuit Board Assembly • Box Build Assembly • Electro-Mechanical Assembly • Plastic Injection Moulding • ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001, ISO 13485, IATF 16949, FDA Registered • Manufacturing locations in Malaysia, Switzerland, Czech Republic and the UK For disruptive Industrial, Medical and Transportation OEMs looking to scale their business COMMENT n
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