Advancements in technology are making industries smarter and faster each day and industrial engineering is no exception. The centuries old profession has seen countless improvements since the first Industrial Revolution, but the cyber and physical systems controlling the next revolution are certain to triumph over those of the past.
Below are three of the top technologies changing industrial engineering as we know it:
Automation and the IIoT
Buzz of the next Industrial Revolution is centered around automation. Modern manufacturing and automation are paving the way for leaner processes by increasing productivity and decreasing spending. Aiding in the development of those leaner processes is the Internet of Things. Connected devices are transforming industrial engineering with new capabilities that allow engineers to remotely operate machinery, gather data and communicate information from the cloud.
The process of adding a software component to traditional manufacturing, titled the Industrial Internet of Things, has already found success in smart factories around the world. For example, Intel reported connecting equipment to the cloud improved their hardware product reliability twofold.
3D Printing
3D printing adoption has become increasingly popular over the last year and it doesn’t show signs of stopping. According to a recent survey on 3D printing adoption by Sculpteo nearly half of respondents plan to increase additive manufacturing by 50 percent by 2016. With the ability to accelerate product development, create prototypes and offer custom or limited-time products, 3D printing provides increased industrial efficiency at a low cost. It also does not require the production of new tools required for traditional manufacturing, therefore eliminating even more costs and lead times.
The efficiency and cost-effectiveness offered by 3D printing is impacting a number of industries including aerospace, medical and transportation. For instance, Boeing and General Electric are collaborating on a process to include 3D-printed parts in commercial jet engines.
Software Programs
An issue that’s often overlooked when talking about the latest industrial revolution is cost. Although using connected devices and 3D printing lowers costs to an extent, extensive cost analysis is still required and is often too expensive of an undertaking for manufacturers to outsource. To combat these expenses, companies are using software programs as a new source of cost management.
With CAD interpretation, software programs use custom algorithms to generate cost analyses for different products. Engineers have the option to filter the results based on material, time for assembly, mold and much more.
Some of these product cost management software programs offer additional functionalities to help companies make better-informed purchasing decisions. For example, aPriori offers online education services that provide customers with the tools to develop successful product cost management strategies.
The introduction of these new technologies has played a major role in the evolution of industrial engineering, making factories smarter and more efficient than ever before. With the launch of the next industrial revolution just around the corner, engineers can expect to see more technological advancements shape the industry and their role in the future.