Insights & Impact

From 5G wireless to artificial intelligence, technology is advancing at the usual breakneck pace and manufacturing industry experts spend a lot of time trying to parse how these developments will play out for manufacturers. Unfortunately, so much of the analysis is focused on the global impact that new technology could create up and down the supply chain with the largest manufacturers at the center.

The increased use of technology in manufacturing has changed processes, supply chains and the skills required of factory workers. In many operations, a lot of attention is given to the challenges involved in updating a factory to take advantage of smart manufacturing technology, but a key component is often overlooked: the company’s leadership.

The time and cost savings realized by automation has driven increases in manufacturing productivity for decades. However, the benefits of automation should not be assumed to be beneficial for only the material portions of the manufacturing process.

Technology-driven change is nothing new in the world of aerospace manufacturing. Smart companies keep an eye on technology trends and find ways to leverage relevant solutions to improve their operations or build entirely new business lines.

Modern manufacturing equipment and ERP systems have added an impressive amount of technology to most manufacturing operations. However, just how “smart” are these factories without a high level of connectivity throughout the manufacturing processes?

With all of the talk about the technology involved in creating a smart factory, we often lose track of one of the most important elements of this transformation: the smart worker.