Industry 4.0/sMart FactorIes


the bIg ManuFacturIng challenges In 2022: how dIgItIsatIon can help? a


ccording to the office of national statistics, the uK economy is still 2.1 per cent below its pre-pandemic peak


and the damage inflicted to the economy is likely to be left for years to come. businesses, irrespective of size or sector were rushing to digitise in 2021, however from now on, they will be focusing on driving growth through digital projects to help negate financial pressures. so, given this economic climate, what are the


big trends impacting manufacturers in 2022? digitisation was well underway prior to the pandemic, but when the coVId-19 hit, it really spotlighted the benefits of connected technology. processes were overhauled and employees quickly shifted to working from home, with just skeleton staffing on the factory floor.


DaTa OvErlOaD


Many manufacturers deployed new processes and digital ‘tools’ in response. this meant that data became much more easily accessible, but for some, it was increasingly becoming out of control. with so many different applications running across different teams, departments and enterprise systems, it is no surprise that manufacturers are becoming overloaded with data. when there is no structure to the flow of


data, teams are unable to see the complete picture. this can lead to the creation of data silos that impact productivity and accuracy as the data is not integrated. often manual data entry is needed which wastes times and risks creating more errors. If data is scattered in silos, it means it is


difficult to access and pass freely between systems preventing the possibility of better, collaborative working. this means that if a change in material specification is needed for example, then it is difficult to implement, preventing the plant from being fully optimised. when manufacturers find a ‘single


source of truth’ for their data, teams can work much more effectively. often, adding digital ‘tools’ to a process acts more like a plaster to a problem, rather than a proper fix. this was a problem in 2021, when some businesses have rapidly deployed digital tools without sufficient preparation to ensure success. this means some digital projects are in


danger of being shelved. to prevent this, operational processes themselves need to be overhauled, if workflows are fundamentally floored then digitisation isn’t going to solve them. start by identifying the key business problems to apply digitisation to otherwise you may risk wasting their time, effort and money.


Supply chain disruptions, staff shortages, energy price rises and new regulations are just some of the factors that manufacturers have had to deal with in 2021. Industrial enterprises have responded by taking the time to re- assess their needs, with some rapidly deploying new tools. Here Intoware’s CEO, Keith Tilley outlines what is next for manufacturers and how digitisation will aid recovery.


SKIllED wOrKEr SHOrTagES


the on-going challenge of unfilled jobs is likely to limit productivity and growth in manufacturing in 2022. to help attract and retain talent, manufacturers should look at reskilling and adopting new ‘tools’ that are more attractive to new recruits to help bridge the skills gap. as technology is evolving and Millenials


and generation Z’s are being born into this technology – it is the way forward. Manufacturers need to listen, think and innovate so they can evolve with them. businesses are increasingly moving towards more engaging interactive, video- based learning - they do not want to learn with physical manuals or clipboards. assisted reality devices integrated


with digital workflow software are attached to safety helmets enabling hands-free, voice-controlled access for trainees who are learning on the job. by keeping field of view completely unobscured, these devices provide a safer environment in which workers can easily use voice commands to watch short training videos, access manuals or look up spare parts, all critical for training.


rEmaKIng Supply CHaInS


supply chain challenges remain acute and are still unfolding in 2022. there is no mistaking that manufacturers face near- continuous disruptions globally that adds costs and test the abilities to adapt, exasperated by high demand, rising raw materials costs and slow freight. having an effective digital strategy in place can mitigate these disruptions is key. those manufacturers that have a distributed workforce, digital ‘tools’ will allow frontline factory workers to connect and share updates in ‘real-time’, across different locations so they can react quickly to material shortages or changes in demand.


16 deceMber/January 2022 | Factory&handlIngsolutIons


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