-Tony Glockler, CEO of SolidProfessor, talks to Asia Manufacturing News

People love to predict the future: whether they will score a 100 on a test, receive a promotion, or win the lottery. Humans make predictions because it gives them a sense of hope and feeling of control over their future. Predictions also free people from fear and prepare them for the unknown.

With the rapid speed of technological advancements, many ponder how this will affect the future of manufacturing. Robots, the Internet of Things, and technological obsolescence are a few technological factors that will shape the future of manufacturing.

Understanding how these will affect the manufacturing industry will allow one to properly prepare for the future.

Robots

The number of robots being used today for industrial work is close to one million. Robots are highly sought after by manufacturers due to their productivity, efficiency, and quality. Manufacturing robots are typically utilized for assembly line work at automotive plants, energy plants, and hospitals.

They are useful for their ability to do a variety of repetitive tasks effectively and tasks that are dangerous to humans including heavy lifting, handling chemicals, and cutting and polishing objects.

Because of their usefulness, robots will only become more and more common, shaping the future of manufacturing. Many may wonder if robots will replace human factory workers. While this is inevitable, it will also create new professions that work alongside these robots.

Robots are still imperfect and their abilities will never be sufficient to replace humans. Though it may change with the increased use of robotics, human labor will continue to be important, regardless of how mechanised industry becomes.

Internet of Things

The Internet of Things, or IoT, is a network of physical objects including devices, buildings, vehicles, and other items becoming embedded with electronics, software, sensors, and network connectivity that enables the objects to collect and exchange data.

Some examples include self-driving cars, room temperature control technologies, virtual reality, drones, and wearables. Many wonder how this will affect the future of manufacturing.

IoT will improve the productivity of the manufacturing supply chain. Data generated by connected equipment can be used to improve processes, including changing design scales and models and maintenance decisions.

Imagine, for example, smart products that take corrective action to avoid manufacturing errors. With the Internet of Things, the future of manufacturing will revolutionize business applications and business models.

 Technological Obsolescence

Technological obsolescence is when objects become outdated in terms of utility. New technologies replace older technologies because they no longer meet the needs of current standards. Technological obsolescence leads to high waste levels because most products take time to decompose.

For example, you may buy the latest iPhone, which has the most storage and best qualities of any iPhone. However, two years later that same iPhone is outdated because the newest model has the most storage and best qualities. This product then becomes waste.

The future manufacturer will be aware of this problem and seek ways to engineer more eco-friendly products. Waste management will be a major concern. Manufacturers will have to come up with processes and materials that will lead to the smallest carbon footprint. As products become obsolete faster and faster, the future manufacturer job will increasingly revolve around disposal of technological waste.

As technology improves, so will the processes of manufacturing. The future manufacturer will have to stay up to date with the latest trends of technology to make their work more efficient.

Knowledge of the different possibilities of the future will allow manufactures to have to upper hand. It is imperative for workers in the manufacturing industry to understand how technological advancements may affect their work. Are you prepared for the future of manufacturing?

*Tony Glockler is the CEO of SolidProfessor, which provides online learning experiences for engineers and designers. Courses include concept-based video lessons, hands-on exercises, and progress tracking and cover engineering software and technologies. Members either learn through a linear experience or use SolidProfessor as an on demand reference tool.