In this day and age, the demand for speed, quality, security, sustainability, and resilience within the manufacturing industry is paramount. In order to adapt to changing demand and increase sustainability and efficiency, manufacturing firms need to invest in digital transformation.
Here’s how digital transformation can affect your manufacturing firm.
Supply Chain Resilience
As we saw with the pandemic, leaky or poor supply chains struggled, and manufacturers had to think of new, innovative ways to be resilient. In fact, 92% of survey respondents said they face barriers for new product innovation because of their supply chain. The reasons range from internal policies that absorb too much of employees’ time, difficulty hiring the right talent, or IP protection risks.
Many manufacturers have turned to on-demand manufacturing solutions as part of their digital transformation strategies to outsource the flexibility, speed and scale needed to innovate, grow, and boost their resiliency.
Increased Investment in Digital Transformation
The pandemic has had long-term effects on businesses and supply chains. With shifts in demand, supply chains struggled to anticipate consumers’ needs. An increase in investment in digital transformation can help manufacturers better forecast surges and decreases in demand, so they can increase production or slow or shift production in response to disruptions.
Types of Digital Transformation
Process Transformation
Process transformation can include transformations to any of the following: data, analytics, APIs, machine learning and other technologies. They offer corporations valuable new ways to reinvent processes throughout the corporation — with the goal of lowering costs, reducing cycle times, or increasing quality. Process transformation can create significant value so it’s important to adopt technology in these areas in order to stay ahead.
Business Model Transformation
Business model transformations are aimed at the fundamental building blocks of how value is delivered in the industry. An example of this is the reinvention of video distribution from Netflix.
Domain Transformation
Some of the technologies that are unlocking domain transformation include: artificial intelligence, machine learning, internet of things (IoT), augmented reality, and more.
Cultural/Organizational Transformation
Full, long-term digital transformation requires redefining organizational mindsets, processes, and talent & capabilities for the digital world.
In some cases, emerging digital technology such as sensors does not require additional training, however, AI use cases and big data analytics are going to be much more difficult to bring into mainstream manufacturing organizations unless you have an AI expert. Different skills gaps will have to be closed in order to stay ahead in the manufacturing industry. That’s why staying up-to-date with the latest training and certifications is important to help advance your manufacturing capabilities. EPTAC offers a variety of online solder training courses and IPC certifications to help you stay ahead.
About EPTAC
For over 30 years, EPTAC has been a leading provider of solder training and IPC certification. We provide professionals with the tools and training they need to advance their careers and improve their businesses. With 19 locations across North America, our solutions and instructional staff provide easy access to knowledge that will enhance your business model and help you meet and exceed industry demands. For more information call 800.643.7822 or contact us.
