THE FUTURE IS NOW

There has never been a more favorable period for the Indian manufacturing industry, where all its advantages are operating at their utmost potential. Following are four key trends that, if embraced, can usher in a revolution in our industry.

Innovations in the Manufacturing industry could not have come at a more exciting time for India. As ‘Make in India’ completes a decade next year, the country is uniquely poised to take advantage of the computing trends that are transforming manufacturing. Here are four trends that are defining the once-in-a-century transformation of the Manufacturing industry, with the potential
to unlock huge productivity gains, eliminate waste, conserve energy, and build more sustainable futures.

Connected workforce to power the factories of the future

The key to unlocking the full potential of the ‘Intelligent factory’ lies in having a connected workforce. As manufacturing rapidly adopts cloud-based technologies like Digital Twins, Mixed Reality, and the Industrial Metaverse, it’s crucial that the workforce also collaborates seamlessly and securely, stays engaged, and is empowered to work in a hybrid environment.

According to Microsoft’s Work Trend Index, 63 percent of frontline manufacturing workers are excited about the job opportunities that technology creates. And with technology set to transform every aspect of manufacturing – from the factory floor to the frontline – AI-enabled virtual agents can empower frontline workers to find intelligent answers within the context of their manufacturing applications. It’s time to embrace the power of the connected workforce and lead the way to a brighter manufacturing future.

Avoid supply chain disruptions with AI

In today’s fast-paced business environment, supply chain disruptions can spell disaster for companies. That’s where generative AI comes in; it can provide predictive insights across materials, inventory, distribution networks, and more to prevent and minimize disruptions, making supply chains more resilient. And with a stronger supply chain, companies can prevent losses, scale up production, and boost output.

Leading companies have already embraced this technology with great success. Kraft Heinz implemented a ready-made command center to reduce risk across its supply chains. Likewise, high-performance computing solutions allowed semiconductor manufacturer STMicroelectronics to transform its supply chain to bring its products faster to market and scale up capacity.

But it’s not just about technology. Automation and robotics can help in performing repetitive tasks faster and more accurately, improving efficiency and productivity. This, in turn, leads to better inventory management and reduces carrying costs. By embracing these solutions, companies can gain a competitive advantage and thrive in an ever-changing market.

Building for sustainability

Leading manufacturers like STMicroelectronics are using technology to double their capacity by 2025 and become carbon neutral in the same year. Sustainability is now a key focus area for manufacturing firms that are adopting renewable energy sources and circular economy principles to reduce waste and optimizing production processes to minimize environmental impact.

Thanks to the cloud, it’s now easier than ever to track, monitor and improve on sustainability goals as processes move to the cloud. But despite this progress, the hardest sustainability challenges still lie in chemistry and material science. To tackle these challenges, scaled quantum machines that leverage state-of-the-art cloud services are required. That’s where supercomputing capabilities, along with AI, come into play, promising to accelerate chemical simulations with predictive modeling tools and workflows. By embracing cutting-edge technology, manufacturers can achieve their sustainability goals and lead the way to a more sustainable future.

Factories of the future

The future of the industrial ecosystem relies on a common virtual space where everyone can visualize and interact
with complex processes using real-world data, in real time. The industrial metaverse, which encompasses AI, Digital Twins, Mixed Reality, Machine Learning, and Cloud-to-Edge technologies, is revolutionizing manufacturing with remote operations, robotics, automation, and autonomous operations.

It is making product engineering more collaborative and closer to the final product, significantly squeezing time-to-launch. Coupled with enterprise-level security, industrial metaverse technologies like HoloLens are offering immersive experiences and changing the face of manufacturing.

Leading manufacturers such as Siemens are already using generative AI to help industrial companies drive innovation and efficiency across the design, engineering, manufacturing, and operational lifecycle of products. Others such as Rockwell are integrating robotics and AI technologies to empower companies to optimize their field service workers and asset management in factories.

With advanced cloud and AI capabilities, the future of manufacturing is quickly approaching and it promises to be the most transformative chapter since the industrial revolution. As manufacturers embrace cutting-edge technologies like the industrial metaverse, generative AI, and robotics, they will unlock new levels of productivity, efficiency, and sustainability. The future of manufacturing is full of promise, and we’re just getting started. With the right tools, technologies, and mindset, we can revolutionize the industry and unlock its full potential for the benefit of all.