From cars to computers, from coffee makers to children's toys, almost everything we use every day is produced by manufacturing companies, which are also a key part of society.

After centuries of development, manufacturing methods have gone from being human-centered, to relying on machine assembly lines, to the automated factories we see everywhere today, and the pace of innovation and development in the manufacturing industry has never stopped.

　　The US "Forbes" website recently reported that with the continuous development of technology, the changes and shaping of the manufacturing industry by technology are also increasing day by day. The future development of the manufacturing industry will show the following ten trends.

　　Industrial IoT

　　The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) refers to the use of connected devices in manufacturing and industrial settings to collect data and then use that data to improve manufacturing processes.

　　Sensors are the main components of these interconnected IIoT devices.

Data collected from sensors on factory machines can help manufacturers understand machine performance, optimize maintenance processes, reduce machine downtime, and even predict when things will go wrong.

　　5G and edge computing

　　The fifth generation of mobile data network technology (5G) will allow manufacturers to easily connect their IIoT technology and utilize devices such as smart machines and sensors (edge ​​computing) to collect and process data.

Manufacturers can create a private 5G network at the production site, providing them with ultra-fast data transmission.

　　predictive maintenance

　　In the manufacturing industry, predictive maintenance refers to the use of sensor data and artificial intelligence to detect failures in machinery and components.

The idea is that by knowing when a machine or component is likely to fail, manufacturers can take preventive action and maintain equipment more efficiently.

　　This doesn't just apply to new devices.

For example, Siemens has used this technology on older motors and transmissions. By analyzing the data provided by the sensors, Siemens can understand the condition of the machine, detect abnormal conditions, and repair the machine before it breaks down.

　　digital twin

　　"Digital twin" refers to digitally copying a physical object, simulating the behavior of the object in the real environment, and performing virtual simulation of the design, manufacturing process and even the entire factory, thereby improving the production efficiency of product development and manufacturing of manufacturing enterprises.

　　Inside a manufacturing plant, one can use a "digital twin" model to simulate the dimensions of a new product, or to create a digital replica of a device to see how it will perform under specific conditions.

"Digital twin" technology can even be used to visualize and simulate entire supply chains.

In 2022, as many as 70% of manufacturers are likely to use "digital twins" for simulation and evaluation.

　　In 2018, Boeing's then-CEO Dennis Muilenburg said the "digital twin" would be the biggest driver of increased productivity over the next decade.

Through the use of "digital twins," Boeing has improved first-run yields by 40 percent.

　　Extended Reality and the Metaverse

　　Augmented reality technologies such as extended reality and virtual reality will play an increasingly important role in manufacturing, including improved product design solutions, better production planning, empowerment of assembly line workers, and more immersive training. .

As more and more people in the world enter the metaverse, manufacturers will gain more opportunities.

　　automated factory

　　Powered by artificial intelligence, machines are now able to perform more and more tasks previously performed by humans.

As a result, machines can also take on more and more manufacturing tasks.

　　Automation brings many advantages to manufacturers, including higher productivity (machines don’t get tired), higher precision, and lower costs.

In the future, we can expect to see more fully automated factories, where production does not require humans to be on site.

　　Robots and Human-Robot Cooperation

　　One of the key elements of automation is the use of robots.

But it is worth noting that not all robots are designed to replace workers, and many robots can become human helpers and improve human work efficiency.

Robotic exoskeletons, for example, help workers on production lines lift heavier parts, and scientists have developed cobots designed to work alongside humans.

　　Robotics and human-robot collaboration can help manufacturers increase productivity.

For example, Nissan has deployed robotic arms developed by Universal Robots in Japan's auto factories to help maintain related equipment; it has also deployed human-robot collaborative robots to help employees install engine air intakes.

　　3D printing

　　As 3D printing technology becomes more cost-effective, scalable, and more efficient, manufacturers will increasingly use 3D printing to manufacture products.

3D printing uses less material and wastes less than traditional manufacturing methods.

In addition, 3D printing will also drive the arrival of a new era of personalized products, because the production of personalized products does not have to worry about economies of scale.

　　Airbus has been using 3D printing technology for over 15 years, becoming a pioneer in 3D printing for manufacturing.

The company makes extensive use of 3D printing technology, enabling localized on-demand production of tools such as jigs and fixtures.

　　Web 3.0 and Blockchain Technology

　　With the emergence of the "next-generation Internet" Web 3.0 (the next stage in the continuous iterative upgrade of the Internet paradigm from Web 1.0 to Web 2.0) and distributed computing technologies such as blockchain and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), manufacturing Suppliers will have the opportunity to better monitor their supply chain and even automate many transactions along the supply chain.

Many products produced in the future will be sold with NFT digital certificates.

　　smarter and more sustainable

　　The emergence of smart IoT devices has not only changed the way products are produced, but also the types of product production.

There seem to be "smart" versions of everything from vacuum cleaners to toilets these days, and the trend toward smarter products shows no sign of slowing down.

As a result, manufacturers will increasingly explore how to provide customers with the smart products they expect.

　　In addition, customers will also increasingly favor sustainable, reusable and recyclable products, and the once-popular disposable culture is expected to end, another factor that manufacturers must consider.

　　Our reporter Liu Xia