The world is changing; we have entered into a new dispensation where every focus is on the internet and the opportunities for growth and efficiency that it presents. The art and the way of life and thinking of the people of the world have been modified to follow with this new trend. Science and manufacturing have not been left out and in many different ways, the internet has affected the way we manufacture our goods, the kinds of goods that are manufactured, how fast they are manufactured and delivered to the consumer and a million other aspects of the manufacturing process in so many ways. The world is heading straight for a world where the manufactured product would be self-sustainable and capable to moderate the manufacture of the same kind or different kind of product without the presence or the assistance of a human. In 2015, the evidence is already before our eyes as in many ways, the internet is already affecting the way we manufacture.
How the Internet is Transforming Manufacturing in 2015
The Social Media step
The Social Media step
The social media gives a clear evidence of the influence of the internet on manufacturing. It is no longer enough to simply manufacture a product from the scratch up, but the advent of digital imaging technology necessitates an initial manufacturing step akin to planning that involves the creating 3-D images of the product to be manufactured. This design is not simply adopted, but in most cases is shared with the social media network of the manufacturing firm where opinions are sampled, suggestions made etc. by the customers. Manufacturing is primarily a B2B business and businesses which buy from manufacturers have to be treated like consumers. The product prototype is shared on social media and the manufacturer creates content with which to convince the client to buy. The internet has modified how businesses buy from the consumers. In 2015, no one leaps right into a purchase any longer; proper research on the internet must be carried out first.
The Cloud Bank
A few years ago, it would be common place to see large scale manufacturing enterprises which are floundering due to the inability to maintain information supply lines and ensure product output is uniform. This is often due to the fact that a lot of them are formed of disparate units of the same organization spread out over large areas, sometimes even across continents. This can be a nightmare to manage and information gets lost in the shuffle. 2015 manufacturing firms are employing the Cloud bank protocol to ensure that the information being passed is maintained as is, and is accessible to all parties at all times, regardless of location.
SMAC protocols
Manufacturing is more than simply creating product and different from providing the solutions to an existing problem. Manufactures that succeed need to provide the exact product that is wanted or needed by the largest portion of the demography. Analyzing the data necessary to obtain this information can be a herculean task involving multiple surveys and endless questionnaires, if this was pre-2015. The manufacturers in this day rely on SMAC protocols which involve data collated across Social, Mobile, Analytics and Cloud based platforms and centers available on the internet and using this data can identify the particular areas where the largest cohort requires a particular product, manufacture the necessary effect to maximum profit.
The Internet of Things (IoT)
The Internet of Things is a theory that has been anticipated since the last century. The theory refers to an internet not made up of people or interconnected computer systems, but of interconnected things, where things are any uniquely identifiable endpoint. These things would be able to communicate with themselves i.e. to send information, receive information and act upon received or sent information, all without the need for human interaction. Each unique endpoint would be identifiable simply based on IP technology and act according to pre-specified protocols. This theory is aimed at promoting a world that does not require hands-on human interaction for the operation of machinery. The Internet of Things theory is being put into place in this time. Though initially conceived with wired technology in mind, the efficiency posed in the internet has pushed the scale for implementation of this theory forward. In 2015, several manufacturers are already incorporating smart devices and parts into their products to enable them to communicate, as the Internet of Things comes online. The IDC has predicted that by 2020, 30 billion devices in use by consumers and businesses would be interconnected.
Reduced Safety and Environmental hazards
As more and more components of the factory floor become interconnected, the need for human control reduces. FactoryTalk is one of such software IoT integration systems being used in Rockwell. It enables the machinery on the factory floor to talk to each other while being monitored on a display dashboard. Less people on the factory floor translates to reduced exposure to safety hazards. This also drastically reduces the cost of human labor as the personnel are replaced by machines and the need for supervision reduces.
Next shore operations
With the reduction of labor on the factory floor, those still being employed will demand extra pay. This additional cost can tell on a manufacturer’s balance sheet. This is the primary cause behind the movement of factory operations to a closer location to the consumer, to forestall extra expenses incurred in the transport of the products after manufacture.
Conclusion
The internet has transformed the manufacturing industry, and in the year 2015 this has become even more evident than before. Products are being integrated with smart components to enable communication and a version of self-awareness after manufacture, and during the manufacturing process, the various components of the manufacturing chain communicate in a seamless activity targeted to ensure efficiency. The manufacturing industry is evolved in 2015 ensuring reliability in the process; connecting the factory floor operations with the social and demographic based analytics so as to create a work plan which can be used to create the best possible results for maximum profits.