March 2019

| SOLUTIONS | www.smartmachinesandfactories.com March 2019 | 33 | A dvances in the manufacturing industry in 2018 saw the introduction of new technologies, techniques and concepts to help reduce costs and improve efficiencies. The industry as a whole contributes £6.7 trillion to the global economy so throughout 2019, it’s predicted that developments will be made to help bolster profitability through using resources such as data and smart systems to meet targets and deliver for clients. As well as industry-specific developments, the other factors set to impact the manufacturing industry in 2019 include the increased expectation of diversity and the roll out of 5G technology. Advanced data usage Throughout 2019, we know that the streamlined collection of accurate data will become ever more critical, with more firms looking to create a data strategy to heighten understanding around business process effectiveness, with the end goal of streamlining this. However, before implementing an effective data strategy, each business must ask itself what needs to be achieved or learnt over the next 12 months; whether that’s how much raw material they use or waste, production volumes, or rate of production. Without key measurable results, businesses are at risk of measuring data for data’s sake, without profitability or significant business improvements. So, let’s make 2019 the time to get smart with industry data usage.   Adoption of new technologies Technology is ever-evolving in the manufacturing industry and for the next 12 months, we predict that there will be an increasing urgency to stay at the forefront of emerging technologies. PwC has noted that businesses must be adaptable, moving quickly to remain relevant and meet growing customer demands as they search for more connected products to solve business pain points. Smart Factory technology could be the relevant solution for this. Research shows that 89% of industry professionals believe John Roberts, director of Idhammar Systems, addresses 5 developments manufacturers need to seriously consider this year, and shares his predictions for the manufacturing industry in 2019.  Data & Diversity: 5 things manufacturers need to seriously consider in 2019