There’s a lot of countries that claim they started the Industrial Revolution. It may have been a slow process rather than a spontaneous one at the onset. But history tells us it was Great Britain that started it all in the 18th century. Technology was at the heart of the transfer from a mainly agrarian/handicraft economy to one dominated by machines and industry. It’s no accident iron and steel came to the fore at these times along with new sources of power (e.g., electricity, coal, steam engine).
Indeed, one improvement came after another. It’s safe to say had it not for the technology presented by the Industrial Revolution, Henry Ford may not be able to manufacture cars at relatively breakneck speed at the start of the 20th century.
America would soon come out on top of Great Britain over time in terms of industrialization. Little wonder that the manufacturing might of the United States of America helped Europe in battling Nazi Germany during World War II.
Today, one technological advantage that can enhance your manufacturing process greatly is cloud computing. The technology is bound to help you cater better to your clients while allowing you to make your processes as seamless as can be. Indeed, it’s a competitive advantage you dare not miss. Here’s why:
Cloud for Manufacturers
When you have the capacity to manufacture goods in speed time, technology is not an option. It’s a must. As American assembly lines belch out one car after another, they’re not only competing with themselves. But more importantly, they’re competing with the rest of the world.
Less than a century ago, Mr. Ford shocked the world with his assertions his assembly line can produce one car in less than two hours, or specifically one hour and 33 minutes. As jaw-dropping as that speed is in yesteryear, today it’s considered slow.
And if for some time there, the world looked up to America as the biggest car manufacturer, today the honor of producing the most cars in a year goes to China. In 2019 alone, the Asian nation produced 26 million motor vehicles as opposed to the 11 million produced by America for that year.
So it goes without saying, that even those manufacturers that were not as IT-savvy had to embrace the internet technology, especially during the time of the virus. Cloud computing software gave mass producers a distinct advantage.
In essence, the cloud refers to a network of servers that can be used for data management, data storage, and processing. Such networks which are accessible only via the internet can be used by one company (private cloud) or by many entities and companies (public cloud).
Right then and there, this means manufacturers can outsource just about any and every facet of their IT via the cloud. We’re talking about renting servers for starters to software that enhances the vital functions of a company (e.g., accounting, HR, sales).
Sharpening Capacity
To boot, a more seamless design process is available via the cloud. For instance, by making a design document available at the same time, a client can verify, add and finalize a sheet metal or a structural material design ready for the laser cutting process. Certainly, the precision and speed at which the laser can deliver make it a perfect pair for cloud computing input.
At the same time, the manufacturer can clarify possible issues with the design easily via the cloud. In short, it’s a win-win scenario.
Moreover, we must realize that cloud computing is as hassle-free as you want it. It’s faster to make use of. Quick adoption, according to Forbes, makes it a choice option compared to traditional software.
Its Greatest Benefits
Many digital natives today make the most of Google Drive, a public cloud available for Google clients. Already, Drive saves a lot of money for millions of internet buffs worldwide. Instead of having to bring along a USB for all your pertinent files, you can save them on the cloud and you’re good to go.
The same holds true for manufacturers. In fact, survey detail manufacturers can save as much as $3 million per cloud-based application adopted. That’s because such a decision enhances the organization’s ability to develop new clients and enhance its overall capacity.
They no longer have to purchase the tech themselves. Instead, the cloud rents these services to them. Some of the most common IT solutions are:
- Software as a Service (SaaS) – access to hosted software (e.g., Trello)
- Platform as a Service (PaaS) – best for software development
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) – access to resources for virtual computing (e.g., storage, servers)
There are a host of choices as to a cloud vendor. But the benefits are basically the same. Some of these are:
- Easy access from virtually any location on the planet
- Ability to assign key operations to the cloud (e.g., sales and marketing, finance)
- Easy management of data no matter the volume
- Faster design process
- Faster field operations
- Faster manufacturing process adjustments
The list can certainly go longer, which tells you that the cloud is the future of the manufacturing industry.
