Advancements in technology are quickly changing the landscape of virtually every industry, especially that of manufacturing. Modern advances are enabling factory operators to streamline production processes, innovate at a faster pace than ever before, and deliver higher quality products to meet changing demands. Because of the versatility of these technologies, there are a number of areas within manufacturing where the tech is being harnessed.

For example, additive manufacturing — more commonly known as 3D printing — has a variety of applications. As it has become more affordable, manufacturers are using it during the production cycle to produce high quality components while keeping costs down. It represents a promising opportunity for the creation of custom goods and other parts.

Digital twins also harness IoT technology and are another way that manufacturers can optimize performance and reduce their costs. A digital twin, as the name implies, is a virtual representation of an actual object that receives data in real time from the object. This data allows you to virtually monitor, say, a piece of manufacturing equipment or an entire production line. Digital twins are being used increasingly to predict maintenance schedules and possible repairs as well as to experiment with changes to a line and review what the impact may be.

The accompanying resource describes some of the innovative ways that the manufacturing industry is relying on these advances.