< Go Back What Covid Taught the Engineering and Factory Industry Posted: May 25, 2022COVID-19
has wreaked havoc worldwide, forcing companies to devise novel strategies to
keep their processes running securely. This involves finding answers to
complicated concerns, including worker safety, supply chain maintenance, and
new technology rollout.
Five
lessons manufacturers have learned from dealing with COVID-19 that will likely
become part of regular operations and will increase efficiency, productivity,
and quality while lowering costs:
Deploy digital
technologies: Cloud
computing, data analytics, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and other
developing technologies are necessary for rapid product creation and
innovation. Machine learning, combined with large data, may swiftly find
interesting correlations between industrial demands and solutions. Using
virtual reality and augmented reality, employees can be reskilled for new
operations and job duties.
Remote workforce: Many organisations
adopted remote working policies that allowed employees to work from home and
comply with social distancing norms. This was frequently found to be a more
efficient and cost-effective technique that improved worker satisfaction.
In fact,
according to a recent study of 317 CFOs and finance executives, roughly a
quarter of respondents want to relocate at least 20% of their on-site staff to
permanent remote-jobs, mostly to save money.
Upskilling,
cross-training, and professional growth: The
ambiguity of this issue has underlined the need for frontline worker
development and cross-training. Manufacturers had to quickly switch lines to
create different items, quantities, and combinations and handle taking over ill
employees' lines.
Just-in-time
digital content and learning software, such as digitised, interactive work
processes that ensure every step is precisely followed and instantly available
through a mobile device, is becoming the standard on the factory floor.
Redundancy should be
included in the supply chain: When COVID
19 struck, many manufacturers had not established partnerships with backup
vendors and suppliers in case of a severe supply chain disruption, causing
massive delays with their principal vendors and suppliers. Developing
redundancy takes more time and money, but the flexibility of digital
manufacturing makes it easier to switch to Plan B fast and at a lower cost.
When
manufacturers adopt digital, they will discover that it is more cost-effective
to construct items in places that historically didn't produce them which are
often considerably closer geographically, reducing the supply chain.
Increase automation: Companies
deal with the loss of labour by investing in automation and robots. It aided in
improving worker safety, accelerating processes, improving product quality, and
lowering operating expenses. Many businesses intend to increase their
automation spending.
For
repeated tasks, robotics is essential. Robots can perform quality control and
auditing activities, record dimensions, colours, and log data. Demand and
production variability-based supply chain modifications can also be automated.
Conclusion: Manufacturers
recognised early on that agility and resilience are critical characteristics
for surviving, if not prospering, future crises and simply capitalising on
shifting consumer preferences during normal times. So, if you need backup staff, regular maintenance of
machines, and fabrication of bespoke items, feel free to contactKarpa .
