Top Industrial Manufacturing Trends You Must Know to Stay Ahead of the Competition

Did you know that today’s industrial manufacturing environment is called industry 4.0? This means we are in the 4th industrial revolution. Manufacturers are using the best of every aspect of engineering and Information Technology (IT) to maximize production, manage production efficiency, and reduce wastage and turn-around time.

As we are almost halfway through 2019, manufacturing trends have changed over the years which is what you should be aware of. By following the latest trends you can literally outperform your competitors and maximize success.

To make sure you don’t miss out on any, we’ve curated some of the latest and greatest manufacturing trends for you to follow.

Here they are:

 

1: CNC machining will become more relevant than ever.

 

cnc machining become more relevant

 

Nowadays, every industrial manufacturing company focuses more on production efficiency with minimum errors. Industries keep on developing new methods to minimize human errors and maximize the utilization of raw materials to create quality products.

CNC machining is by far the most cost-effective and efficient manufacturing method for most companies and industries like automobiles, medical, and aerospace. They will require CNC machining the most due to its ability to produce huge scale products with great accuracy.

As far as other industries are concerned, CNC machining will remain an integral part of manufacturing for bulk manufacturing, prototyping, rapid manufacturing of nuts, bolts, cogs, etc. Thereby assisting companies to streamline the production process with other manufacturing tools like robotics and 3D printers.

The main objective of CNC machining is to reduce errors by processing the computerized data and producing the finalized product repeatedly without losing accuracy. That’s why it will remain a go-to auto manufacturing process for many industries in the coming years.

What will be new is the introduction of solar-powered CNC machines due to the adoption of a more environment-friendly trend in the manufacturing sector. Also, some CNC machines will be used in generating electricity.

 

2: IoT is the Next Big Thing

 

iot is the next big thing

 

Speaking of transformations in the manufacturing industry, IoT (Internet of Things) is the next big thing that will make manufacturing even more efficient.

Although IoT has been prominent in the manufacturing industry for the past few years, many industries are rapidly leveraging IoT to further optimize the manufacturing process.

Key benefits of IoT manufacturing are as follow:

  • Increased efficiency
  • Quick product innovation
  • Improved safety by decreasing human involvement
  • Wireless access and operation

Due to faster internet and improved cloud computing, it is possible for manufacturers to reduce human interference and remotely access the machines with the same accuracy.

All these factors make IoT the next big thing to look out for in manufacturing.

 

3: 3D printers and rapid prototyping

 

3d printers and rapid prototyping

 

As you already know, time is the most crucial factor in manufacturing. In today’s competitive environment, any time advantage you have over your competitors can make a difference when it comes to winning and losing the market share.

That’s why rapid prototyping has been the most common approach for product prototyping in many industries. It refers to creating multiple scale models of your product to experiment and refine a new product idea to perfection. It is a much faster and cheaper alternative to speeding up your manufacturing process.

Use of 3D printers in the industry is said to increase in the near future, not only for prototyping but also to create products themselves. Products like customizable dolls, artifacts, jewelry, etc. can be produced directly using 3D printers.

3D printing is also used in medical industries to create a replica of implants, dentures, etc. to help patients. The real estate industry also uses 3D printing to create a small scale replica of buildings to showcase intricate details of the outside area, gardens, and other amenities.

Additive technologies like 3D printing have revolutionized rapid prototyping and it will keep on improving as time passes by.

For instance: 3D printers of the future could process any synthetic material to create a 3D replica so that you can create an almost-exact product with the same raw materials and intricate details. Also, the use of 3D printers and rapid prototyping is said to expand to other industries like education, pharma, etc.

 

4: Finding a tech-savvy workforce will be tough

 

finding a tech savvy workforce will be tough

 

As integrating latest technologies have become mandatory for all businesses to stay ahead of the curve, companies need to have a tech-savvy workforce to operate these technologies with finesse.

However, most industries today are struggling to find employees that are well-versed with these latest technologies. This talent gap in the industry is limiting their potential as they are forced to stick to old-school manufacturing technologies.

To fill up this gap, companies either train their current employees to keep themselves updated or make their business appear more appealing to tech-savvy employees by partnering with reputed institutes.

The best way to have specialized manufacturing services is to hire a third-party manufacturing workshop. It is much cost-effective way to get robust manufacturing expertise and services and it also saves you from the hassle of purchasing huge machines as well.

What’s more, these machine workshops are always ahead of top manufacturing trends, well-equipped with the latest machinery, and boast an expert staff to fine-tune your manufacturing efforts and increase production.

 

5: VR and AR will simplify the manufacturing process.

 

vr and ar will simplify the manufacturing process

 

Speaking of the latest technologies used in manufacturing, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) will be more prominent than ever in the near future.

Virtual reality can work in harmony with CAD to help designers better visualize the product and make improvements. As of now, the integration of VR and AR in manufacturing is getting much more accessible to SMEs. These technologies will greatly benefit companies to create beautiful and highly functional products that satisfy consumer needs.

 

Final Thoughts

To sum it all up, the manufacturing industry is one of the most dynamic industries in the world. 2019 is said to bring tons of technological advancements in the manufacturing sector to help create quality products for customers.

These 5 trends are the game changers in manufacturing 4.0 and adopting them will help you make rapid advancements in manufacturing.

You should also keep in mind that prototyping and design machining services will become even more prominent for manufacturing industries to save cost and get the right expertise.

Speaking of which, if you are looking for top-notch manufacturing expertise in one place, then we, as a leading CNC machining company, can help you out. We own a dedicated CNC machining workshop in Houston, Texas and provide value-for-money CNC machining service to local businesses.

Just send us your queries and we’ll look into your manufacturing requirements.

5 Tips to Select Right CNC Machining Services for Your Business

CNC machining is at the heart of every product manufacturing industry. It is the most commonly used process for industrial manufacturing and prototyping.

For starters, CNC or Computer Numerical Control system is a controlling system which uses electronic computers to operate machines that manufacture the product.

If you are currently looking for a quality CNC machining services for your business, it could be for two reasons: 1. Either you are looking for a third-party partner for manufacturing your product or 2. You have some emergency and need CNC services immediately.

Either way, selecting the right CNC machining service provider is an important decision you have to take for your business.

Selecting the right CNC partner for your business reduces a significant load and helps with efficient manufacturing in the long run. However, selecting the wrong service provider can cost you a fortune and switch back between different ones could be even more costly.

Bottom line: You do it once and you do it right.

But how?

This blog will help you select the right CNC service provider for your business. Make sure you keep the following factors in mind before taking this crucial decision.

1: In-depth Knowledge

in depth knowledge of cnc machining services

First and foremost, your CNC service provider should have a thorough knowledge of different aspects of CNC machining.

From product designing to prototyping and manufacturing, CNC service providers must have an understanding of everything.

Not only that, they should know their way around a variety of CNC equipment so that they can recommend the perfect CNC machines according to your product and budget.

2: Experience

experience in cnc machining services

Secondly, providers must also have good experience in different industries and the latest trends in manufacturing. This is important especially if your product is new so that the company can recommend the perfect manufacturing strategy.

However, remember that with a big company come big paychecks.

But what if the company is relatively new?

It’s simple. Check out their portfolio and see the work they’ve done in a short span of time. It will give you a clear idea of how well the company can work on short term and long term projects.

3: Precision and Flexibility

precision and flexibility in cnc machining

Manufacturing with precision is the most important aspect of a product’s success.

Make sure your CNC service provider takes care of every minute detail of the size, shape, dimension, and material used when manufacturing.

And believe us, it has more to do with just designing products precisely.

It is also important to use raw materials efficiently with minimum wastage in order to reduce the excess cost to the company. Choose a CNC service provider who will efficiently manage the raw materials and product designing on their own.

Secondly, an ideal CNC service provider must also work closely with you and quickly adapt the changes recommended by you.

The company you choose should be as flexible as the product manufacturing industry itself. It should be able to understand changes in the product requested by you and implement them quickly enough to deliver on time.

4: Location

location

Another important aspect to look for when picking a CNC machining service company is its geographical location and how close it is to your own company.

Having a nearby CNC service provider significantly reduce logistics costs and makes it easier to communicate quickly and precisely.

As the internet allows global communication, you can also choose your service provider from different corners of the world.

However, it is recommended to pick the right CNC service company within your local area as it reduces the risk of product damage during transportation. Also, you don’t have to worry about taxes and other legal issues.

5: Additional Services

additional services

Last but not least, if a CNC service provider has something extra to offer with their core services, you can save some extra money on those rather than going with different vendors for every service.

Some of the best CNC companies provide some additional services like custom machining, metal fabrication, reverse engineering, scale model prototyping, etc. These can help you find and solve some major manufacturing issue your product could be facing.

Here’s how to make the most out of CNC service company:

Check out their website to find out what additional services they are offering. If their services match your requirements, you can mention those specifically when sending a quote to your service provider.

Final Thoughts

To wrap it all up, an ideal CNC machining service provider should save your time, money, and efforts apart from giving you a comprehensive and practical manufacturing solution.

Make sure you keep the above points in mind before selecting the perfect CNC service for your business.

Speaking of best CNC services, if you are a manufacturing company in Texas that needs CNC machining services, then you don’t have to look anywhere else.

We are a leading CNC machining service provider in Houston and will be more than happy to work closely with you as your strategic manufacturing partner.

For some top-notch product manufacturing services, reach out to us today!

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