Automation is changing the way manufacturing works opening new amazing opportunities for industrial businesses. Today its use is still limited, but the technological revolution is already upon us and the trends it’s focused on right now will take the industry to a new level shortly. Today it’s not only about using robots for quicker and more efficient assembly and transportation. Industrial automation is bringing cloud technology and micromanagement to new heights increasing the quality and versatility of production.

Top 4 Manufacturing Automation Trends That Will Change the World

1.      Internet of People to make manufacturing limitless

The use of Industrial Internet of Things is nothing new, but the Internet of People is only starting to make way into the industry. When it does, cloud and mobile technologies will enable manufacturers to not only decentralize their production centers and employ freelance professionals capable of operating machines remotely.

Businesses will also be able to connect with their customers and set up real-time monitoring systems within user interfaces. This will provide greater insight into customers and their use of the products. This, in turn, will allow for more efficient improvements. With the robots’ capacity for miniature changes, the implementation of this technology will enable an advanced level of customization.

2.      Efficient automation to allow low-volume production

Manufacturing automation increases the efficiency of production to such an extent that it makes producing small volumes of products profitable. Once this technology becomes commercially viable so it can be picked up by the majority of manufacturers, the thresholds of volume will change.

This revolutionary step forward will redefine business as we know it because it will give small companies an opportunity to manufacture and sell top-quality custom products. Such a step will no doubt affect huge corporations that will have to find new ways to hold their customers’ interest as prices will even out.

One also shouldn’t forget that this particular line of development will make robots themselves more available. This will allow small businesses to launch their own automated production lines designed to meet their needs perfectly. This technology alone has the potential to completely revolutionize the entirety of business on the planet and take humanity forward.

3.      Increased task variability to boost automation opportunities

One of the biggest failings that production robots of today have is their limited scope of action. The majority of machines are only able of performing a single task, and the number of those tasks is limited. Increasing the flexibility in this particular matter is one of the main trends in manufacturing automation technology of 2018. Once this goal is achieved, advanced production will become much more efficient and versatile.

For the industry this means both cost savings and an increase in quality. Production lines will become customizable, which will expand manufacturing opportunities and therefore the variability of products one can create. With the business world brimming with innovative startups, this development in technology is no doubt going to revolutionize our world further.

4.      Increased cybersecurity to reduce the risks for manufacturers

One of the main manufacturing automation technology development trends has very little to do with the actual advancement of these solutions. However, increasing their security is an essential part of this progress. With machines and AI entrusted with more control over production processes, the entire manufacture’s vulnerability increases as this tech is subject to cyberattacks.

The evolution of security solutions is an inherent part of the overall technological progress. The manufacturers of today must pay as much attention to their cyber protections as they do to implementing advanced technologies.

Manufacturing Automation of the Future Is Already Here

The technological development trends listed above develop as we speak. The solutions capable of taking the industry to a new level exist and are used by a limited number of manufacturers and research institutes. They still need much work, but them being already operational allows for a much faster progress that we will definitely see the result of soon.

Bio

James Hill is a writer for DO Supply.