The manufacturing industry is one that has gone through a huge amount of change in recent times. The industry is always changing, but in recent times there has been the COVID-19 pandemic, technological developments, changing consumer expectations, and an economic downturn that have all caused significant changes. This means that it can be hard to keep up with the latest manufacturing developments and trends, which can be problematic for anyone in this industry. Therefore, it is helpful to look at what a few of the key manufacturing trends are in 2023 and how they are impacting the industry this year.
Automation
Automation has been steadily on the rise for a number of years, and manufacturing has been one industry that has been leading the way in this field. This has reached new levels in 2023 with technological developments allowing businesses to automate many tasks, plus staffing shortages have also forced businesses to use virtual processes. It is not man vs machine, though, as many businesses are finding that cobots can be used as a way to make work easier and safer for manufacturing employees.
Sustainability
As with many industries, sustainability is a major trend in manufacturing in 2023. All businesses are looking for ways to reduce their impact, but the manufacturing industry is one that gets a lot of attention as it can be a harmful process. Manufacturing companies are looking to become more sustainable to reduce their impact, but also so that they can develop a positive reputation and appeal to today’s eco-conscious consumer.
Sight Glasses
In manufacturing, businesses always need to make sure that they are utilizing the best equipment and instruments to streamline the operation and improve product quality. In 2023, many businesses are using sight glasses as a way to monitor fluids and media in tanks and pipelines. There are different types of sight glasses, but essentially they are transparent windows allowing staff to see inside a process pipe or tank. Sight glasses are being used extensively in industries like food and beverage manufacturing and pharmaceutical manufacturing and can be used to verify various steps in a process, check product clarity and ensure cleanliness.
Strengthening Supply Chains
The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the manufacturing industry in a number of ways. One of the main ways that it caused disruption is through supply chains, and waves are still being felt today. As a result of this, manufacturing companies have to strengthen supply chains in order to ensure operational continuity and for peace of mind. There are a few ways that this can be achieved, such as using local suppliers, having contingency plans, and using data-driven inventory management as a few examples.
Currently, these are 4 of the biggest trends in the manufacturing industry. It is hard to keep pace when so much has changed in the last few years, but it is important for those in the industry to stay abreast of the latest trends and developments so that you can adapt and find continued success even during challenging times.
