Over the course of the past decade, a lot has changed in the manufacturing industry and all thanks to new technology. When it comes to innovative technological inventions, most of us think of smartphones and Apple watches. However, that’s not all that technology has changed.

For the manufacturing industry, new technology has had a huge impact. Developments in software and manufacturing processes have changed the way that products are manufactured. The face of manufacturing is very different to what it was 15 years ago. So different in fact, that back then the changes were unimaginable.

3D printing

One of the most significant developments in the manufacturing industry is 3D printing. Since it first launched, the technology has been developed so much that it’s now possible to create almost anything via a 3D printer. From kitchen cutlery to pieces for machinery, 3D printers can create almost anything using a range of materials. This technology has changed the manufacturing industry in a big way, making prototypes much easier and cheaper to create.

Computer aided and managed technology

20 years ago, almost all manufacturing was done by hand. Today, however, thanks to advancements in technology, that’s no longer the case. The invention of computer aided design has meant that the way manufacturing processes are completed has changed. CNC machinery, such as the CNC Swiss machine, for example, has made manufacturing much easier, quicker and cheaper. The types of machinery that are run by computers have meant that manufacturing processes no longer require such a large workforce. Instead, most tasks can be completed using computer software.

Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology is still in development. It might only be in the early stages, but it’s easy to see the potential. What is nanotechnology? It’s the manipulation of matter on minute scales – atomic and molecular to be precise. Right now this new technology is only used in space and biotechnology but in the future, it will play a big role in every aspect of manufacturing. It’s already been used to speed up computer processors and make memory cards smaller. As well as for creating bandages that encourage faster healing. There’s a lot more to come from nanotechnology, especially for the manufacturing industry. It’s just a case of allowing the tech to develop.

Cloud computing

Cloud computing isn’t just for backing up your documents and photos; there’s a lot more to it than that. Able to store large amounts of data, cloud storage has become more and more important to the manufacturing industry. This is because more and more manufacturing companies are using cloud computing. This is used to store and manage designs and processes that can then be sent to certain pieces of machinery. This makes the production process even quicker and easier to control and manage. In the future, all manufacturing companies will most probably be connected to the cloud.

Manufacturing technology has come a long way over the past few years, changing the processes in place forever. Like all areas of business, technology has changed the production industry for the better. It’s allowed costs to be cut and productivity to be significantly sped up.