Technology impacts the everyday life of most people within the United States. Smartphones, laptops, and other forms of technology have become a necessity for everyday life - which means that it has integrated with most of our jobs as well. One of the areas where technology has become prevalent is in the manufacturing industry.
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What is Manufacturing Technology?
Manufacturing technology refers to the broad range of processes, techniques, and tools used in the production of goods or products. It encompasses various aspects of the manufacturing process, from the design and creation of a product to its final assembly and distribution. The primary goal of manufacturing technology is to efficiently and cost-effectively transform raw materials into finished products.
Advantages of Manufacturing Technology
With manufacturing technology, there are various benefits that improve a production facility with ease. The advantages of manufacturing technology include the following:
Increase in Quality - Quality enhancement is by far one of the main beneficial components of manufacturing technology. With production software, humans are needed less in all aspects of production planning and scheduling, as well as the actual production process itself. Automation in the creation of schedules and production line means an optimized schedule that reduced the number of inefficiencies, defects, and other mishaps. This is because humans are more prone to error than programmed machines are, so it is obvious why many production facilities are choosing to use robots and automation instead of having a large number of workers within the plant.
Cost Reduction - Cost reduction is one of the key goals of manufacturing technology. This is because of the correction of inefficiencies and waste being reduced within the production process, which saves a drastic amount of money in the long run. Manufacturing technologies improve overall productivity, which increases profit immensely as well. In addition, technology and automation usually mean that you require fewer workers in the plant, which is typically the largest cost incurred by a manufacturing company.
- Reduction in Overall Production Time -The longer the production process is - the more it is going to cost. Manufacturing technologies drive the production process and get products out in a much more efficient manner. This is all thanks to machines automating the process, in which production time is drastically reduced between product batches, ultimately allowing for the manufacturing operation to increase profits. In addition, using machines to automate the production process means that you have a consistent run rate for production that can be used to more accurately predict when you can deliver your goods.
Data-Driven Forecasting and Planning - Advances in AI and production planning and scheduling means that you will be able to match your supply chain with actual customer demand more accurately. This will allow many manufacturers to only produce what is needed to supply the customer demand and avoid creating waste due to overproduction driven by poor forecasting.
Overall, there are many advantages of manufacturing technology that easily help boost production, ultimately saving the production facility money and ensuring that production is on time and efficient.
Disadvantages of Manufacturing Technology
Along with the various advantages of manufacturing technology, there are also disadvantages pertaining to the technology as well. The disadvantages of manufacturing technology include the following:
Limited Creativity - Manufacturing technology completely limits creativity due to the abundance of automation/machinery and lack of employees within the production facility. Employees are able to brainstorm while counteracting a particular problem, while machinery is only optimized to do as it is told, even if there are issues.
High Initial Cost - Many manufacturers are intrigued by the cost-reduction benefits of implementing automation and technology within their manufacturing facility. While the benefits can help cut costs and ultimately increase profits, there can be high initial investment costs involved. It is important to adequately evaluate the long-term benefits of adding various types of technology within your operations to determine whether the initial implementation cost will be worth it.
Contribution to Environmental Issues - Global warming is a large concern for many individuals around the globe - with manufacturing being a substantial contributor to it. Manufacturing technology means more equipment and technology being incorporated with production facilities, which has negative impacts on the environment due to the various fuel sources such as gasses and chemicals required to run it. In addition, a more efficient production line means that you can increase your overall production amount - leading to more waste and other emissions.
Unemployment Increase - Unemployment has been a significant concern for manufacturing since automation began to play a role. Ever since manufacturing technologies have become prevalent, there has been much concern over what that means for human labor within manufacturing facilities. For many, adding more machines and automated processes means that less labor is required. On the other hand, more of your employees&#; time can now be dedicate
d to high-value tasks that will help grow your business.
If you are involved with manufacturing, you are aware that manufacturing technology is a must in order to keep up with competition and to ensure that products are made efficiently. Whether your concerns pertain to global warming or how manufacturing may hurt the environment, manufacturing technologies aid in eliminating waste and ultimately enable manufacturing facilities to utilize resources to their fullest extent.
PlanetTogether enables us to provide a quality product to our customers in a timely manner.
GREGORY VAN LEIRSBURG, PRODUCTION SCHEDULER, STANDARD PROCESS SUPPLEMENTS
One of the most popular forms of manufacturing technology includes Advanced Planning and Scheduling Software (APS), which enables manufacturers to have a visual representation of their production schedule and establish insight into the entire process.
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Advanced Planning and Scheduling Software
Advanced Planning and Scheduling Softwares have become a must for modern-day manufacturing operations as customer demand for increased product assortment, fast delivery, and downward cost pressures become prevalent. These systems help planners save time while providing greater agility in updating ever-changing priorities, production schedules, and inventory plans. APS Systems can be quickly integrated with an ERP/MRP software to fill the gaps where these systems lack planning and scheduling flexibility, accuracy, and efficiency.
With PlanetTogether, you can:
Create optimized schedules balancing production efficiency and delivery performance
Maximize output on bottleneck resources to increase revenue
Synchronize supply with demand to reduce inventories
Provide company-wide visibility to capacity
Enable scenario data-driven decision making
The implementation of an Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) Software will take your manufacturing operations to the next level of production efficiency by taking advantage of the operational data you already possess in your ERP system. APS is a step in the right direction of efficiency and lean manufacturing production enhancement. Try out a free trial or demo!
Related Capacity Planning Video
APS Resources
InfographicsCase StudiesWhite PapersHave you ever dove into something for which you were completely unprepared and immediately regretted it? I can tell you about one such instance. I and two others had been invited on a river rafting trip by a co-worker, who claimed to be an expert river guide. We soon discovered, however, that this &#;nature adventure&#; had more in store for us than we were ready for when we briefly lost control of our raft. Thankfully, we quickly returned to safety, but for a moment, I thought we might end up on the rocky bottom of the river bed.
Relying on an unknown contract manufacturer on the other side of the planet to build your new PCBAs is another type of risky, high-stakes &#;adventure&#; for which your company is likely unprepared. When it comes to maintaining maximum control over production, quality, and cost with a timely rollout, a local CM is a much better choice. This is especially true when you&#;re innovating in Silicon Valley and need a reliable CM to manage your NPI runs. Here&#;s a closer look at the potential PCB manufacturer advantages and disadvantages that come with partnering with a local CM.
Local PCB Manufacturers Ease Research Process When Choosing a CM
On my rafting trip, I had unconsciously transferred feelings of trust and safety to someone whose skills on a river were unknown to me, and the results were disastrous. Likewise, it is short-sighted to commence production with any CM without having obtained unbiased information about the CM&#;s integrity and performance record. You do not want to discover too late that your proprietary design has been stolen, or that your product reflects your CM&#;s lack of quality processes.
This research is easily accomplished within the PCB manufacturing community in Silicon Valley, but it&#;s much more difficult to do when a CM is overseas. In these instances, you often must rely on the information provided by the CM, along with the limited historical and financial documentation available in the public domain.
When you choose a local partner, your company can avoid making a blind decision because there are multiple avenues available to objectively assess CM performance:
- Your company can interview local industry peers who are familiar with a CM&#;s production history, market segments, strengths and weaknesses, and industry reputation.
- Your engineers can tour local CM facilities to observe the CM in production mode and their management style.
- The CM&#;s production staff can visit your facilities and meet your design engineers.
There&#;s something invaluable about having the time and proximity to discuss your production needs in person. It&#;s a significant benefit anytime you&#;re deciding to work with a CM, but especially so when you&#;re introducing a new product.
New Product Launches Best Handled by Local CMs
As with any new product or process, it is a certainty that you will face challenges during your PCB&#;s NPI runs.
When overseas production stops due to design obstacles, or when the PCBAs fail electrical tests, a speedy response is needed from you. However, due to geographical distance, a prompt resolution is blocked. Instead, your engineers must rush to board flights, while your managers attempt to troubleshoot long-distance via conference calls and , sometimes requiring the services of language interpreters. One day is lost due to time zones, and a second day is lost obtaining overseas management approval on the design and process changes.
By the time your company delivers updated schematics to the factory, how much production time has been lost? How much stress have your employees experienced? How much overtime has been used to respond to an overseas situation that could have been addressed in one day with a local CM?
New product launches are beset with complexity by the sheer number of phases involved. Design engineering, component engineering, compliance, sourcing, manufacturing and testing, quality control teams, and suppliers must all be closely coordinated. The ability to synchronize production faster and easier is one of the biggest advantages of choosing to partner with a local CM.
Weighing Local PCB Manufacturer Advantages and Disadvantages
Of course, when faced with the decision of choosing a CM, it is important to have as much data in front of you as possible. Just as I now have a very solid list of pros and cons should I ever consider river rafting again, working through a robust list of advantages and disadvantages can aid in the decision-making process when choosing a CM. Consider the following points:
Advantages of Working with a Local CM
- Ease of research. Geographical proximity allows for confidential inquiries with industry peers into a potential CM&#;s production history, management style, production strengths and weaknesses, and company integrity.
- Proximity for in-person meetings. You have unlimited opportunities for in-person introductions, contract negotiations, and spontaneous design review meetings. While in production, your engineers are available for short-notice, hands-on troubleshooting, allowing issues to be resolved quickly&#;often on the same day.
- Engineering and quality oversight. Your company&#;s engineering and quality assurance teams can oversee first production runs.
- Quick turnaround and lead time reduction. You can expect a quick turnaround for revised design schematics for the factory, which reduces your lead time. In the case of an NPI, your engineers could receive the product the same day it comes off the line and out of testing.
- Enhanced communication. Rapid communication to the CM is possible if you need to make a change or have a need to scale production up or down.
- Streamlined design process. Since CMs charge OEMs for engineering change orders after production commences, a local CM with engineering services can get involved pre-production to streamline design processes.
- Access to quality materials. Local CMs&#; contacts with materials suppliers allow them to have high-quality components ready in advance, knowledge in forecasting, agility in meeting production needs, and thorough testing procedures.
- Reliable delivery. Shipping via ground travel is affordable with a low risk of product damage&#;no expensive overseas shipping costs, no ocean or air cargo insurance, and no tariffs.
- Real-time updates. Your company can maintain continuous knowledge about the status of production and enjoy a respite from the high-risk uncertainties of overseas outsourcing.
Disadvantages of Working with a Local CM
- Labor costs. You&#;ll face a higher labor rate due to a higher federal minimum wage when working with a CM in the United States.
- Taxes. It&#;s possible you&#;ll face higher utility and tax expenses.
- Shipping expenses. Shipping to overseas customers is more costly from the United States.
Choose a Local CM for Your PCB Manufacturing Needs
Careful examination of the pros and cons listed above is an excellent strategy to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of working with a local contract manufacturer. Sure, lower labor costs overseas are enticing, but that only becomes worth it once you&#;re doing larger production runs using a vetted process. For your NPIs and low-volume runs especially, the optimum manufacturing scenario means having real-time oversight of PCB production, quality, and costs. Aligning with a reputable manufacturing partner, such as VSE, who has industry experience and engineering expertise will ensure a smooth product rollout.
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