About 10 years from now the manufacturing industry will be more sophisticated. The role of humans is getting smaller because it is replaced by new technologies that are completely automatic. This was revealed in the Ericsson IndustryLab Future of Enterprises study. The report says most manufacturing companies will become 80 percent automated in the next 10 years. In addition, the adoption of ICT-enabled devices in the manufacturing industry has also doubled in the next 5 years. This means that the role of humans will be replaced by technologies such as AI software, video recognition, augmented & virtual reality, Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), and exoskeletons. Exoskeletons or external body coverings are an exciting new technology. This technology will be able to provide increased strength, precision and durability for production employees through protection of body parts such as hands, arms, or even full-body clothing.
The latest Ericsson IndustryLab report takes an in-depth look at the future of manufacturing, gathering insights from approximately 145 million production employees from 22 countries. As a result, most manufacturing companies have not suffered the worst impact of the global Covid-19 pandemic. In fact, 69 percent report financial performance that has not changed, or even improved, since the lockdown began. However, in response to intense global competition and constant pressure to increase productivity and efficiency. Eight out of 10 manufacturing companies say they are currently operating below their cost-cutting targets. To deal with this demanding environment, and to enable production employees to be smarter, faster and safer, manufacturing companies are introducing ICT-based production tools. These tools include: artificial intelligence (AI) software, augmented reality (AR), collaborative robots (co-bots), Video Recognition (VR), digital twins, and remotely controlled machines and vehicles. Smarter, better trained production employees with a safer work environment are emerging, supported by ICT-based production tools.
5G Will Be Used in Factory
Seven out of 10 manufacturers say they plan to deploy five or more production tools enabled by advanced wireless networks, such as 5G, within five years. Three out of four manufacturers, including respondents from Indonesia, said that advanced wireless technologies such as 5G and Wi-Fi 6 were very important to support these production tools. Head of Ericsson Indonesia Jerry Soper assessed that 5G will present a series of innovative use cases to increase productivity, efficiency and agility of a manufacturer, as well as freeing operations from dependence on cable use.
“It will greatly increase operating speed, increase maintainability and improve safety.” said Jerry.
Intelligence and robotic intelligence is not something to be afraid of because it will replace the role of humans. Instead, the technology will help people to be more productive. Therefore, it is necessary to build a system design that can certainly improve performance. Of course accompanied by regulations and supporting facilities so that technology and human labor can be in line.
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