-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- pcb007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueThe Growing Industry
In this issue of PCB007 Magazine, we talk with leading economic experts, advocacy specialists in Washington, D.C., and PCB company leadership to get a well-rounded picture of what’s happening in the industry today. Don’t miss it.
The Sustainability Issue
Sustainability is one of the most widely used terms in business today, especially for electronics and manufacturing but what does it mean to you? We explore the environmental, business, and economic impacts.
The Fabricator’s Guide to IPC APEX EXPO
This issue previews many of the important events taking place at this year's show and highlights some changes and opportunities. So, buckle up. We are counting down to IPC APEX EXPO 2024.
- Articles
Article Highlights
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Events
||| MENU - pcb007 Magazine
Digitalization: Key to the Future of Electronics Manufacturing?
June 28, 2019 | Neil Sharp, JJS ManufacturingEstimated reading time: 3 minutes
Electronics manufacturers have long relied on automation to streamline their production processes. The concept of the smart factory takes this one step further with artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, analytics, big data, and the Internet of Things (IoT) promising an even greater level of autonomy, agility, and connectivity.
IoT sensors and devices can be used to connect our machines and provide detailed information about their condition. The integration of robots on the factory floor can facilitate unmanned production and increase productivity. Sophisticated analytics—together with AI and machine learning—are taking on many of a factory's routine tasks and providing invaluable data to make real-time decisions.
The potential of the smart factory also extends far beyond the factory floor to encompass the manufacturer's supply chain, customer service, after sales, office administration, and HR. As the latest Manufacturer's Annual Manufacturing Report 2019 highlights, smart factories offer an exciting range of transformational digital technologies that promise to improve efficiency, cut costs, and give companies a competitive edge. According to the report, the global worth of IoT is estimated to reach a massive £4.7 trillion by 2025.
But while many organisations say they are keen to capitalise on the newest digital technologies, surprisingly few are actively taking them up. How successfully they are being implemented is still largely reliant on an organisation having robust leadership and a clear strategy. So, what are some of the key themes electronics manufacturers can take away from the 2019 Manufacturer's Report?
Digital Technology Has the Power to Drive Efficiency
Driving business efficiency is an ongoing challenge for U.K. manufacturing. The report also reveals that there's resounding agreement on the value of adopting digital technologies to increase business prosperity.
Seventy four percent of manufacturers believe that new smart technologies will be pivotal in helping them transform their operations, whether through improving design and production processes (77%), streamlining their internal company processes (74%), helping them communicate more effectively with their supply chain (42%), or helping them deliver a better customer purchasing experience (40%).
Predictive maintenance is also considered to be one of the key technologies that can be harnessed to proactively identify problems, increase machine life, reduce machine downtime, and boost electronics manufacturers' operating profitability.
Investment Is Still a Hurdle for Many
But while the vast majority of manufacturers recognise the value of new digital technologies, it's clear that when it comes to adopting them, there are a fair few obstacles to overcome.
Just over one-quarter of respondents (26%) stated that while the adoption of digitalisation was on their wish list, they were unsure as to what they need to do to implement it. Surprisingly, too, one in four manufacturers said that they currently have no digital plans in place. Among the main reasons for their reluctance to act were not having a coherent digital strategy and difficulty in understanding the practical applications that the new technology would offer within their organisation.
For many businesses too, there is still a reticence to break the traditional boundaries between different functions, to seek out the new skilled workforce that they need, or to buy into the concept of flexible and continuous improvement.
There’s Good News for Humans
While the fear of robots stealing our jobs may still be a pervading one in popular culture, the 2019 Manufacturing Report suggests that within the manufacturing industry, there's no need to be so worried.
In fact, 91% of respondents say they believe that their workforce is more engaged when working alongside machines rather than operating them. Further, 90% say that the data they will be able to gather from connected machines will be hugely influential in reducing costs and informing their decision making. There is also strong agreement that while digitalisation may lead to some reduction in the workforce, it is just as likely to help companies achieve more with the workforce that they currently have.
Conclusion
The 2019 Manufacturer’s Report makes a strong case for the value of digitalisation in global manufacturing. As Cara Haffey, industrial manufacturing and automotive leader for PwC, succinctly sums it up, "The U.K. has a tremendous platform to capitalise on these technologies, but adoption needs to be accelerated." What’s required, she says, is “clear leadership...and a desire for organisations to be braver in disrupting their existing business models.”
Neil Sharp is the director of marketing for JJS Manufacturing.
Suggested Items
Real Time with… IPC APEX EXPO 2024: Tools, Training, and Trends in Manufacturing Engineering
04/25/2024 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOGuest Editor Kelly Dack and Product Specialist Erik Bateham of Polar Instruments discuss Polar's latest technology, including their role in aiding manufacturing engineers. They highlight the advanced capabilities of Polar's tools and the critical role of signal integrity analysis, as well as the importance of accurate modeling in board manufacturing. Polar's unique training approach and demonstration contact details are also explored.
TTM Celebrates the Grand Opening of Its First Manufacturing Facility in Penang
04/25/2024 | TTM Technologies, Inc.TTM Technologies, Inc., a leading global manufacturer of technology solutions including mission systems, radio frequency (RF) components and RF microwave/microelectronic assemblies, and quick-turn and technologically advanced printed circuit boards (PCBs), officially opened its first manufacturing plant in Penang, Malaysia with an investment of USD200 million (approximately RM958 million).
Listen Up! The Intricacies of PCB Drilling Detailed in New Podcast Episode
04/25/2024 | I-Connect007In episode 5 of the podcast series, On the Line With: Designing for Reality, Nolan Johnson and Matt Stevenson continue down the manufacturing process, this time focusing on the post-lamination drilling process for PCBs. Matt and Nolan delve into the intricacies of the PCB drilling process, highlighting the importance of hole quality, drill parameters, and design optimization to ensure smooth manufacturing. The conversation covers topics such as drill bit sizes, aspect ratios, vias, challenges in drilling, and ways to enhance efficiency in the drilling department.
Elevating PCB Design Engineering With IPC Programs
04/24/2024 | Cory Blaylock, IPCIn a monumental stride for the electronics manufacturing industry, IPC has successfully championed the recognition of the PCB Design Engineer as an official occupation by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). This pivotal achievement not only underscores the critical role of PCB design engineers within the technology landscape, but also marks the beginning of a transformative journey toward nurturing a robust, skilled workforce ready to propel our industry into the future.
Fujitsu, METRON Collaborate to Drive ESG Success
04/24/2024 | JCN NewswireFujitsu Limited and METRON SAS, a French cleantech company specializing in energy management solutions for industrial decarbonization, today announced a strategic initiative to contribute to the realization of carbon neutrality in the manufacturing industry.