THE EVOLUTION OF A SMART MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISE Brad Yager, Director Process Automation Offer & BD Pacific
In an increasingly digitally connected world, the potential for efficient manufacturing is limited only by the ability to comprehend and utilise innovative applications and technologies.
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he manufacturing industry is no stranger to transformation, and the rate of change of digital transformation is more than ever. Often referred to as the Industrial Internet of Things, the industry is once again being presented with a challenge to reinvent itself. This era of cyber-physical systems heralds a new vision for manufacturing: the smart manufacturing enterprise. Historical advancements in technology and manufacturing have undoubtedly changed human life and the way we live and work. We have seen living standards dramatically improve, while real wages have risen and the price of items once considered a luxury have fallen. But faced with a new set of challenges, the manufacturing industry needs to step up and embrace the next evolution of smart technology.
18 WHAT'S NEW IN PROCESS TECHNOLOGY - APRIL 2017
By 2050, the population of Earth will hit nine billion people. In order to meet the demand generated by this nearly 30% increase, productivity and quality will have to significantly improve. Another issue which has required more consideration than ever before is sustainability, as the manufacturing industry is a major energy user. Industries and governments are tirelessly working on ways which could help to reduce the amount of energy consumption and to implement ways of working that would be more eco-friendly and sustainable for the future. When dealing with rising energy costs and a volatile commodities market, manufacturers today are challenged to increase productivity to meet the needs of a growing population without harming the environment while using fewer resources.
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