Process Improvement Trends

As manufacturers integrate the latest technologies with improved communication systems, U.S. factories become increasingly competitive against overseas operations with lower labor costs. New technologies fuel growth in the U.S. manufacturing sector and continue the trends toward process improvement.

Better robotic automation technology is one of the most significant manufacturing trends. Although robotic arms have been common in factories since the 1980s, older robotic units are difficult to program, dangerous and lack versatility. Newer industrial robots are smaller and safer for general use. Industrial researchers are developing robots that provide continuous feedback to human workers and are easily programmable by people with limited technology experience.

Three-dimensional printers are another of the manufacturing trends emerging to improve production processes and possibilities. Printers are dropping in cost and increasing in versatility. Manufacturers use 3-D printers to fabricate parts on-site, which reduces the wait time for small parts for custom orders. Flexible 3-D printers can also be programmed to create replacement parts for machinery to decrease downtime on the assembly line, and they make it easy to modify parts for small batches of custom products.

Another use for 3-D printers is in factory-integrated research and development. Manufacturing trends toward project-based manufacturing require quality on-site teams to work on new products. Research professionals use 3-D printers to create prototypes for testing and modification of specifications.

Enhanced and evolving communications technologies improve processes in many manufacturing trends. Cloud-based team interaction allows professionals to collaborate from remote locations to better meet the needs of clients who are looking for real-time product development.

Manufacturing trends include the integration of information systems from suppliers and customers to streamline the manufacturing process. New mobile technologies give customers direct access to factory inventories and allow suppliers to respond immediately to orders placed by customers with the manufacturer. This leads to faster service and minimizes the necessary office support staff for the manufacturer. It also reduces paperwork, decreases order errors and shrinks waiting periods for missing supplies.

In order to stay competitive in the international arena, manufacturers need to be prepared to integrate new process improvements as soon as they become available. Manufacturing trends toward a continuous improvement model require knowledgeable managers who stay up-to-date on new processes and utilize a flexible manufacturing model that responds quickly to current trends. In response to this need, the Obama administration created the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation to aid U.S. manufacturers in the use of industrial technology.

A steady supply of workers knowledgeable in modern manufacturing processes and high costs have historically been among the biggest obstacles preventing U.S. manufacturers from modernizing production processes. As the cost of technology drops and more workers are trained in the use of technology in industry, U.S. manufacturing trends continue to move towards more automation and smaller, project-based manufacturing runs.

(Photo courtesy of (Stuart Miles)/ freedigitalphotos.net)