How smart manufacturing tech could improve productivity | Aug. manufacturing production, industrial production up in US | Company creates security solution for using OT with IIoT
Advanced manufacturing technology could give a much-needed jolt to manufacturing labor productivity, which hasn't grown in the past five years, analysts from Deloitte write. A recent study found that smart technology provides business value to factories in various situations.
US manufacturing production rose more than expected in August, increasing 0.5% after falling 0.4% the previous month, according to the Federal Reserve. Total industrial production for the month rose 0.6%, but production at factories was down 0.4% from the same period last year.
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Operational technology has been the target of recent cyberattacks, highlighting the need for better security, particularly as OT is being integrated with IT and the industrial internet of things. One solution created by Tempered Networks allows companies to "keep their existing network and security stack in place, but deploy an industrial IoT microsegmentation overlay," David Petersson writes.
Warehouses are using automation tools more widely to help meet customer demand for fast delivery, Richard Seel writes. He notes that warehouses may eventually rely more on skilled workers who can interact with automation technology, rather than unskilled workers who perform simple tasks.
A company's process of digitizing its supply chain should have four main components: descriptive, predictive, prescriptive and autonomous, experts said at a recent supply chain management conference. Companies should start with problems that are easy to solve but don't need to wait until their data is perfect, experts added.
PepsiCo has announced a goal of decreasing virgin plastic use by 35% by 2025 by increasing alternative and recycled material usage in beverage packaging. The company plans to reduce single-use plastic waste by growing its SodaStream brand.
Additive manufacturing is more sustainable than conventional manufacturing in some, but not all, instances, according to MIT professor Timothy Gutowski. He says sustainability can be measured with a "buy-to-fly" ratio of raw material to material in the final product.
Manufacturers will be looking to hire more process engineers and data analysts, thanks to the rise in smart technology, according to a survey by the Northeast Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance and the St. Norbert College Strategic Institute. Contract manufacturer J&R Machine is using such technology to save time on preventive maintenance, but President Tim Tumanic says it will likely lead to a demand for new skills rather than a reduction in jobs.
