The manufacturing industry is changing with many companies adopting new transformation methods after the pandemic to get ahead of competitors and technology.
In a recent study by Vodafone Business, it has been found that only 31% of manufacturers would consider themselves FFTF (Fit for the Future) or prepared to tackle future challenges. The pandemic has caused manufacturers to put enhanced roadmaps in place to help drive digital technology/transformation and put many in an excellent place to deal with any obstacles.
Transformation can help improve customer expectations and increase competition in manufacturing and by leveraging digital technologies, manufacturers can improve speed and efficiency, increase production, decrease costs, and provide a better customer experience.
What’s more, having real-time data about the supply chain could enable manufacturers to respond faster to supply shortages and demand spikes.
Let’s take a look at a couple of the tools manufacturers are using to support such changes.
Manufacturers are acting quickly to adopt new technologies, with most willing to be the first to try out new technology, and implement it to become mainstream before investing. This adoption of technology helps to digitalise processes, products, and services as well as battle with market competitors for innovation.
In terms of using specific technologies, the manufacturing sector is further ahead of most other sectors surveyed. Technologies adopted by manufacturers include the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, robotics, mobile private networks, and mobile-access edge computing.
Another tool manufacturers are embracing is automation, with 44% automating mundane tasks and 39% automating tasks compared to 16% who are not automating any tasks at all.
Automation is set to have a positive impact on the sector with 43% already training employees to build skill sets that cannot be replaced by automation to ensure employees’ jobs are future-proofed.
The pandemic has clearly caused many manufacturers to accelerate their digital transformation plans and invest in modern technologies that will put them in a good place for the future. Technologies such as IoT, 5G and mobile private networks will be absolutely vital in securely connecting assets and enabling innovation.
