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New Year, new times: 2021 Industry 4.0 Trends in Manufacturing
When a new year begins it’s time for us to create our annual trend list. Even when a pandemic hits out of the blue, manufacturers who were relatively resilient and were already embracing the latest technologies, found it easier to adjust and respond. In an uncertain climate like today’s, the next lines offer a clear direction for prioritization and development.

May the force be with you, manufacturers: Emerging workforce challenges, trends and winning strategies in today’s remote work age
The challenges manufacturers encounter during these times take on many forms Some challenges lead to new strategies that will stick along as they create an opportunity for companies and prevail for that reason.
In this article, I will focus on changes related to the professional manufacturing workforce that will probably stick around.

Production scheduling in the Industry 4.0 era – AI-based Digital Assistants can provide vital support
Scheduling production operations is one of the key challenges faced by planners and schedulers working for advanced manufacturers. An optimized production schedule will improve on time delivery while ensuring the best possible use of factory floor resources – increasing throughput and reducing waste. AI-based intelligent software can help planners meet their objectives.

A new standard for lean manufacturing? How cutting optimization increases the entire manufacturing organization’s profitability
Optimized cutting and kitting processes in many discrete manufacturing segments are crucial due to the high cost of raw materials, and therefore they have a direct influence on the company’s overall profitability. Manufacturers are leaning on technology to optimize every step in the process. AI technology helps meet manufacturing needs by offering a dramatic advancement in cut planning and manufacturing optimization.

The Tremendous Power Of AI In Manufacturing Optimization – 5 Examples That Clear The Mist
When the word ‘AI’, enters the discussion things become interesting. “Oh, we already use AI,” people say to me.
I’m always happy to indulge in conversations about AI use cases, so I immediately ask if they would be OK with telling me a little about their system, and how exactly it’s being used.
Then, as the discussion continues, it becomes clear that they were actually referring to BI, reports and dashboards and not AI in the deep sense that I was.
Don’t confuse AI with data analysis and dashboards

Industry 4.0 Survey Highlights: 2020 Global Manufacturing Trends Brought to You by SME and Plataine
The digital manufacturing transformation is continuing to grow at full speed. As it is a part of a cross industry shift, specifically in the advanced manufacturing industry, enterprises deal with crucial and expensive procedures.
SME & Plataine surveyed the market to identify important Industry 4.0 trends in 2020. We compared the findings to trends we’ve identified in our last survey that we ran in 2018, and we published an industry report that presents and highlights our most important findings. As you will soon read, a lot has changed over the course of 2 years.

Industry 4.0 Solutions for SMBs – Why small & medium size industrial companies need to embrace cloud-based solutions
As a provider of Industry 4.0 solutions for advanced manufacturing, we often hear small and medium size manufacturers (SMBs) tell us they are concerned Industry 4.0 and IIoT is only suitable for large industrial corporations.
The advantages Industry 4.0 technologies deliver are clear: streamlined production, increased capacity and throughput, improved quality, reduced re-work and waste, and total visibility.
So, the question is, what’s holding SMBs back from implementing Industry 4.0 and IIoT-based solutions?

Test yourself- how smart & agile is your factory?
Tips to reduce costs and maximize manufacturing yield during times of global changes and uncertainties
It was Charles Darwin who famously said: “It is not the strongest of the species that survives… It is the one that is the most adaptable to change“, and indeed, as in nature, it holds true in business and economics.
We have prepared a short test, to estimate where you stand and how you can become smart, improve the overall agility and efficiency of your composites production operations, reduce production costs and maximize production yield. Let’s take it step by step;

5 main challenges in adopting Industry 4.0 & how to overcome them
In what feels like a minute and an eternity all at the same time, the industry is now busy dealing with a rollercoaster of shifts that impacts everyone in every aspect of our lives in a wide range of fields that include Aerospace, Automotive, Heavy Machinery, and more.
The next paragraphs will examine some of these changes and the main strategies that come along and help manufacturers face today’s challenges, keep the resilience, plan and be prepared for the day after the crisis.

Supply Chain Collaboration in Discrete Manufacturing – Benefits, risks, and Ways to Succeed in times of uncertainty
As the world grapples with the human and economic crisis unravelling due to the pandemic, supply chains are experiencing unique challenges of their own.
The traditional focus on supply chain optimization to minimize costs, reduce inventories, and drive up asset utilization has removed buffers and flexibility to absorb disruptions. Global shocks and unpredicted situations show that many companies are not fully aware of the vulnerability of their supply chain relationships to global uncertainties.

‘The day after tomorrow’ for advanced manufacturers: What to consider while planning COVID19 recovery
In what feels like a minute and an eternity all at the same time, the industry is now busy dealing with a rollercoaster of shifts that impacts everyone in every aspect of our lives in a wide range of fields that include Aerospace, Automotive, Heavy Machinery, and more.
The next paragraphs will examine some of these changes and the main strategies that come along and help manufacturers face today’s challenges, keep the resilience, plan and be prepared for the day after the crisis.

Lean forward: How Industry 4.0 is supercharging Lean Manufacturing
In today’s complex-manufacturing competitive landscape there’s no room to make critical mistakes. This article looks at the common pitfalls and examines top manufacturers’ strategies to avoid them.