{"id":6821,"date":"2018-11-29T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-11-29T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/slcontrols.com\/7-industry-4-0-trends-that-will-influence-manufacturing-in-2019\/"},"modified":"2021-10-15T09:51:17","modified_gmt":"2021-10-15T09:51:17","slug":"7-industry-4-0-trends-that-will-influence-manufacturing-in-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slcontrols.k8s-stg1-global.sq1.io\/en\/7-industry-4-0-trends-that-will-influence-manufacturing-in-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Industry 4.0 Trends that Will Influence Manufacturing in 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Manufacturing technologies are advancing at a faster rate than ever before. In such a fast-paced and busy environment, it can be hard to cut through the information and noise to get to what really matters and what will really make a difference.<\/p>\n

In other words, the things that will improve your competitiveness in the marketplace and your bottom line.<\/p>\n

Industry 4.0-related technologies are driving much of the changes that are currently taking place in manufacturing. This applies in all sectors, but it is particularly important in high-specification and highly regulated industries like pharmaceutical manufacturing and medical device manufacturing.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re in one of these or a related industry, here are seven Industry 4.0 trends that will influence manufacturing in 2019.<\/p>\n

1. Factory Automation<\/h2>\n

The are many reasons for companies moving towards Factory Automation technologies. This includes making production lines more efficient, making more effective use of resources, and improving productivity.<\/p>\n

Recruitment challenges are also a factor, with manufacturers looking to technology as a solution.<\/p>\n

Remaining competitive in fast-changing marketplaces is also a driving factor for increasing numbers of companies adopting Factory Automation solutions.<\/p>\n

There are challenges, not least the challenge of integrating legacy systems and platforms with new equipment and technologies. These challenges are not insurmountable, however, so Factory Automation will be a feature in manufacturing not just in 2019, but for many years to come.<\/p>\n

2. Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality<\/h2>\n

Virtual, augmented, and mixed reality can be applied in manufacturing facilities in several ways. This includes product design, production line development, driving OEE improvements, technical and engineering support, training, team collaboration, inventory management, and more.<\/p>\n

These technologies help businesses work more effectively while also making them more efficient. An example of their application includes using augmented and virtual reality to design a new production line or product, perfecting it in the virtual world before real-world prototyping or production begins.<\/p>\n

Another is an engineer providing remote engineering support on a specialist machine on your production line using mixed reality. In this situation, your facility and engineer can be located on the other side of the world to the technical support engineer.<\/p>\n

3. Digital Twin Technologies<\/h2>\n

Digital Twins are an emerging technology that will become an increasingly important tool in manufacturing facilities. A Digital Twin is an exact virtual replica, updated in real-time, of a physical object, process, or product.<\/p>\n

The applications for this technology in manufacturing are far-reaching. One example is having a Digital Twin of a piece of equipment \u2013 or your entire production line \u2013 where engineers can run simulations and where machine learning technologies can predict breakdowns, plan maintenance schedules, improve OEE, and more.<\/p>\n

4. Increasing Convergence of IT and OT<\/h2>\n

In the past, IT and OT were typically separate in manufacturing businesses:<\/p>\n