The pace of advancement for enabling technologies that are intertwined with traditional manufacturing processes is accelerating at lightning-like speed. Advanced Manufacturing Technologies (AMT) like additive manufacturing, robotics, and digital manufacturing and design are equipping today’s manufacturers to take their operational performance to the next level.
A common perception among small and medium manufacturers is that advanced robotics and automation are out of reach – expensive and time consuming implementations that are simply not a fit for their high-mix/low-volume operations. While that was the case decades ago, the ongoing industry trend to address those challenges has made that more perception than reality.
Smart Manufacturing, a facet of Industry 4.0, integrates cutting-edge technologies like IoT, big data, and system integration to enhance operational efficiency through data utilization. Amidst the vast array of technologies, pinpointing your challenges empowers you to harness these tools to optimize throughput, minimize downtime, elevate quality, and expedite decision-making using real-time data, trends, and analytics.
According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), more than 2.5 million cybersecurity incidents were reported in 2021. That represents an increase of more than five times over 2016. The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), under the department of Homeland Security, reports that while 43% of reported cyber attacks target small businesses, only 14% of those businesses are prepared to defend themselves.
Managing Director, Technical Services
Senior Consultant, Manufacturing
Workforce Specialist