Tag : 2019 manufacturing

U.S. Manufacturing

U.S. Manufacturing Myths and Misconceptions

It’s impossible to pinpoint when we collectively became Debbie Downers regarding U.S. manufacturing. People appear to equate the rise of Chinese manufacturing with the decline of U.S. manufacturing, although there is no truth to it. In fact, there is no truth to many of the myths and misconceptions about Manufacturing. Here are 10 of the worst offenders:

Manufacturing in the U.S. is in a Sharp Decline

A 2016 MAPI Foundation report claims that if U.S. manufacturing were its own economy, that economy would be the seventh largest in the world. The size of the economy based on manufacturing alone is greater than the economic output of Brazil, Italy, India, and Canada. Just to underscore – that’s the manufacturing sector alone. Nearly one-third of the U.S. economy is manufacturing-based. Consider the points scored politically by both sides of the aisle when politicians decry the loss of Manufacturing in the US. While it may benefit them in the short run, it does the public at large a disservice by painting a far bleaker picture then actually exist.

Jobs in Manufacturing are Dangerous

To be fair, there have been times in American history when manufacturing jobs were downright unsafe. Innovative laws, regulations, and technology introduced through the years have resulted in far safer workplaces. While the risk of injury exists at any place of employment, Americans working in manufacturing have a relatively low risk of being injured. This is according to a report by the Bureau of Labor statistics. Less injuries are partly due greater awareness, and partly due to newer, safer production techniques. It is in the best interest of both a company and its employees to employ practices designed to protect employee wellbeing.

Robots are Going to Replace Humans

Is impossible to deny that manufacturers have invested in greater automation technology. That fact in no way means that robots will replace humans. More than 12,000,000 Americans work in the manufacturing industry, a number that is expected to increase rather than decrease in the upcoming years. Automation was never designed to take over for humans, but to give them a competitive edge in the world marketplace. U.S. workers produce more than workers anywhere on the globe, and automation simply makes them more efficient.

Manufacturing Does Not Create Enough New Jobs

This myth practically busts itself. In an industry that employs more than 12,000,000 people, there are always jobs available. Manufacturing continues to represent one of the country’s most vibrant job markets. Positions in manufacturing, from CEO to CNC machining, must be filled in order to enjoy continued growth.

It’s Too Expensive to Manufacture Products in the U.S.

Due to the way in which U.S. manufacturers have “leaned” their production processes and received new tax breaks, the cost of American products have actually become less expensive, rather than more expensive. In order to compete, American companies are learning to work smarter (beginning with processes like Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma). Combined with tax breaks, they are able to pass the savings to consumers. As easy as it would be to be cynical and assume that manufacturers are keeping the extra profit for themselves, they realize that they must offer competitively priced products in order to compete with production coming out of other countries. As an added bonus, U.S. manufacturing companies spend more on research and development then manufacturers from any other country in the world. The result is a better product and now, a better price.

American Manufacturers use Outdated Processes

This myth has just enough truth at its core to make it believable. It is, however, not true. It did take U.S. manufacturing more time than it should have to embrace new technology and the digital revolution. As more manufacturers realized that they would have to adapt to survive and that automation and streamlining could improve efficiency and output, they came on board. Today, you would be hard-pressed to find a successful manufacturer that does not use the most up-to-date processes. In fact, you need look no further than your local CNC machine shop for state-of-the-art technology.

It’s Fine to Outsource as Long as Product Design Stays in America

People have found ways to justify outsourcing since it began. They’ve said that they’re doing it to cut costs and save jobs in the U.S. They’ve said that it’s good for the global economy. They have also claimed that it’s fine to outsource production as long as product design stays in the U.S. This is a myth. As the former CEO of Intel, Andy Grove knows a thing or two about manufacturing processes. Grove argues that the best innovation takes places when designers and production teams are in one place. They can troubleshoot, give each other feedback, and fine-tune their designs.

The Only Manufacturing Jobs Available are Low-Skilled and Tedious

Today’s manufacturing involves the use of computers that can operate machinery in a way that allows for extraordinary precision. The field requires skills like the ability to problem solve on the fly, operate complex machines, and make quick calculations. Any job can be tedious. The best employees in manufacturing do not just consider the task at hand, but also think about ways they can improve the process.

Women are Unhappy in Manufacturing

The collective mental image we have of the American factory worker tends to be male. After all, it was men who filled the factories after World War II, and men we saw on the nightly news when they went on strike in the decades that followed. That image may be one of the reasons that a Women in Manufacturing survey found that less than 10% of women ages 17 to 24 listed manufacturing among their top five career choices. Perhaps the outcome would have been different had they known how happy women working in the manufacturing sector are. 82% of women who work in manufacturing say they find the field interesting and challenging. 74% felt that manufacturing offers multiple career opportunities. No matter a person’s gender, opportunity awaits in fields like CNC manufacturing, electronics, and apparel manufacturers.

Manufacturing has no Future

Change is not only inevitable, it is uncomfortable. While U.S. manufacturing evolved and some of the big players moved to a bench position, the myth that manufacturing in the U.S. has no future grew. Rather than marveling at the new and innovative businesses that were expanding their manufacturing base and much of the public focused on the big players that now seem somewhat small. The truth is, change is not bad, it’s just scary. Manufacturing in the U.S. is alive and well. The number of people needed to fill open manufacturing positions continues to grow and the impact the manufacturing sector has on the economy swells.

As manufacturing fuels the economy, there will be a need for more skilled workers, like engineers and machine operators who can work on custom machined parts. That’s good news for everyone. Tag Team Manufacturing, located in Parker, Colorado is looking to add machine operators and set up machinists to their team. Contact them today at 303-841-5697.

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Manufacturing Trends for 2019

Denver Manufacturing has seen a number of different technological upgrades for the past few years, and the industry has no other choice but to upgrade with the times. This year, there are some manufacturing trends that the industry should pay attention to.

Blockchain Technology

Not a lot of people had heard of blockchain outside of the cryptocurrency sphere until recently, and now blockchain is changing the manufacturing world. Blockchain technology helps distribute information to thousands of different computers in order to reduce the threat of hacking one central point of entry. Blockchain will have an effect on financial operations by adding additional security and boosting speed, and it will be a cost effective solution for transactions. Blockchain technology will also play a role in areas of transaction reporting, tracking, and management. Fully secure product tracking can also benefit from blockchain technology.

More Diversity

Last year many different industries experienced conversations about diversity, and the manufacturing industry is no expectation. An organization is likely to perform better if the workforce is more diverse. Businesses that are forward thinking should be implementing more rigorous and impactful programs to help accelerate the diversification of the workplace.

IoT Expansion

2018 was already a big year for IoT expansion and 2019 is expected to be the same. The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network that connects many devices, from cars to home appliances. The idea behind this technology is to automate information and data transfers between different programs and devices without having to use human-to-human interaction, or even human-to-computer interaction. With the boost of 5G connectivity and other advances in sensor technology, the industry is expected to see a lot more IoT devices than ever before, which will drive an industrial revolution. The manufacturing industry benefits from IoT because it can help you with the ability to automatically track and log. Transferring data this way saves money and time and you don’t have to manually track all that information. While this may not be such a big deal for small businesses, as IoT becomes more widely used it means companies that are using older technology may need to adjust. If companies cannot adapt, business partners will switch to partners that move faster and have a better eye for innovation. Another benefit of IoT for the manufacturing industry is better responsiveness and efficiency. A machine could respond to problems faster and provides instant and timely solutions. This allows for bad products to not be produced in the first place.

5G Rollout

The groundwork has been laid for 5G for a bit now, and in 2019 the rollout should really pick up. 5G will help improve download speeds, reduce latency issues, and enhance the ability to control a variety of devices remotely. 5G rollout also helps improve IoT and will be a game changer that gives real time control and insight to companies, in order to make more impactful decisions.

Augmented Reality

Many people have seen augmented reality but may not have realized this is what it was. It’s the act of imposing digitally created images into real life objects within a device, such as a camera, computer, tablet, or cell phone. This may seem like it is not going to help manufacturers, but it does. Even though robots do their own work, they can’t yet fix themselves. By using software in a phone or tablet, workers can use video footage in real time and let the software fix the problem. This works if the software is on the outside of the machine. Another way augmented reality can be used in the industry is with training. Many people know that manufacturing jobs can be dangerous. If a worker isn’t sure of what they are doing, he or she can injure themselves and others. With training sessions using augmented reality, employees can get the knowledge they need to know without even stepping foot on the floor of the factory and risk hurting themselves. All they have to do is use a headset, look on a screen and enter a manufacturing simulator. Some other applications for augmented reality that aren’t as known are for inventory management. Programs can show workers where materials and parts are in the warehouse, as well as assist with product development. Augmented reality can allow you to create something before it even hits the line.

Customer Support with Many Channels

Manufacturing offers a lot of sales work and customer service, and it’s important that this part of the industry doesn’t get ignored. Omni channels means more channels and finding multiple ways to complete the same tasks. By using Omni channels, you can allow business partners and vendors to buy their own materials and parts and you don’t need to spend a lot of time with emails, calls, and other back and forth communication.

Robotics

2019 will see a greater use of robots. Robots are going to be more sophisticated and machines are going to be smarter, smaller, and more integrated with human tasks. There is a lot of concern about robots taking over jobs. According to one review, robots are expected to create some new jobs over the next few years due to artificial intelligence and automation. However, jobs could also be lost. As the industry continues to move toward robotics, the process is moving toward people working near the machines or even with the machine. Robots can be utilized in a number of different ways, such as discovering sources of raw material and inspecting equipment for safety, that make them valuable to have in the industry. Tag Team Manufacturing in Colorado invested in a Sawyer Robot to help with the long production work of small parts. Sawyer can run 24-7 with lights out capabilities and can be trained to do various tasks that are needed in the machine shop.

Analytics Software

With improvements in big data, analytics help businesses go from being reactive to proactive. Businesses can now get ahead and employ predictive analytics, in order to anticipate what is coming. By using predictive analytics, businesses can use a holistic approach to optimizing production assets across the entire lifecycle to improve operations. A machine shop shouldn’t just simply collect and store data, and manufacturers need to be able to identify the results they want to achieve and use the data to actually help them with their goals. An example can be an original equipment manufacturer wanting to improve the facility by reducing the amount of materials that are wasted during production. In order to do this, manufacturers need to collect production data and compare it with data from enterprise resource planning. Without a strategy, businesses will just collect data and keep it, and then not receive any benefit from their investment in analytics software.

3D Printing

3D printing is not anything new and has been around for a while, but it will continue to help manufacturing in the new year. 3D printing can help make manufacturing stronger, faster, better, and cheaper, and also help the industry benefit overall.