(There is a lot more manufacturing done in our community than many realize. The manufacturing industry has been affected by the pandemic and recently has been undergoing a significant increase in overall demand. While this article looks at manufacturing generally, our local companies are part of the overall trends.)
(NewsUSA) - The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic will continue to impact the manufacturing industry in both the short and long term, but smart businesses will continue to adapt by understanding current trends and their impacts.
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) supports North America's
manufacturers of construction and agricultural equipment to promote success and growth in the
global marketplace.
The organization has identified five top trends to follow in 2021 that can help
businesses succeed and ultimately thrive:
- Safety first. Workplace safety and compliance with the latest guidelines from the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
remain a top priority in all areas of manufacturing in 2021 and beyond.
Although the ongoing distribution of vaccines is encouraging, the impact of
vaccination will not be apparent in the short term, and organizations will need to continue with
the workplace strategies of practicing social distancing, restricting visitors, encouraging good
hygiene, and ensuring employees' health before allowing them on the job.
- Together remotely. Technology has allowed many industries to connect and collaborate
from a distance in ways never before available.
"The desire to equip workers with technology to stay connected and collaborate
from a distance has been a trend within our industry," says Dennis Slater, President of AEM.
As the rise of big data in manufacturing takes shape, creating and finding technologies to
make an increasingly spread-out workforce as productive as possible is a top priority for
companies, and especially our equipment manufacturing members."
Manufacturers who continue to provide training and resources to help employees
maximize productivity remotely will retain a competitive advantage.
As a recent McKinsey & Company article states, "by digitizing processes to
improve equipment management and optimize physical assets, digital collaboration tools give
manufacturers ways to boost productivity while enhancing quality" according to AEM.
- Expanded Internet of Things (IoT). The IoT is an ongoing trend to watch in
manufacturing, More organizations recognize and incorporate smart devices and embedded intelligence
in multiple areas of the production process as a way to maintain efficiency and productivity with
greater remote monitoring.
- Shop local. Manufacturers who are willing and able to embrace a localized
economy can benefit from smaller, more flexible factories located near current and prospective
customers. Not only can certain costs be saved, and potential disruptions to supply chains reduced,
but many consumers report that they value authenticity and local sourcing.
- Maintenance made easier. Technology also allows manufacturers to have more
detailed information about their equipment, which helps them more accurately predict potential
equipment failure and plan accordingly to prevent downtime.
