We’ve all heard the phrase ‘work smarter not harder’. Well, there’s nowhere better to see this in action than the factory floor of 2019.
Forget everything you thought you knew about traditional production and assembly lines.
Today’s factories have moved into the ‘fourth industrial revolution’, or Industry 4.0, with the introduction of ‘smart factory’ operations. This means using everything from robots and radio-frequency identification to AI systems and wearables (smart watches, wristbands and VR headsets).
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But how do humans work smarter not harder in the factory setting?
Stay on the Move
In many jobs slowing down to think about how we tackle a situation can identify more efficient ways to accomplish tasks.
This doesn’t work so well in the high-paced environment of manufacturing. Here every second counts and workers are constantly on the go.
This can be moving from machine to machine to control the production process or navigating a shop floor the size of Arran on foot or by forklift.
And this is where mobile computing devices come into their own. They can be used to pinpoint precisely which stage production has reached, as well as accurately generate real-time inventory updates.
This means everyone, from production operatives to factory managers, are always in the loop – and can make faster, better informed decisions. That’s working smarter and faster.
Get Yourself Connected
When the Internet of Things links every stage of manufacturing – from production and warehousing to shipping and receiving – greater insights are gained into what works and what doesn’t.
All the data collected can ultimately be used to increase productivity and efficiency. That’s working smarter to make jobs easier and profits bigger.
Of course, technology never stops evolving so it’s important to keep eyes and ears and fingers and thumbs open for new innovations . . . and be ready to embrace them to streamline or automate tedious work.
This is the smart way to free up time for more productive tasks.
More Skills, More Opportunities
Being able to boast state-of-the-art, connected technology not only future proofs a manufacturing business, it helps attract new generations of skilled workers.
In this way, rather than killing jobs, technology can create new career opportunities – especially as the number of fully connected factories is expected to double by 2022.
And, while old assembly-line systems lacked distinct paths to promotion, managers now recognise upskilling staff in new technology improves operations and creates valuable management material.
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