The Future of Factories [Infographic]

Brian Wallace October 26, 2021

The world of manufacturing is always changing. Disruption, innovation, and global connectivity are all reshaping how manufacturers deliver in today’s experience. As the world around you changes, consider how your factories ought to change with it.

The first thing to consider is resource planning. Define the plant’s layout, flow, assets, and resources needed to produce products in a safe, efficient manner. Next, plan out manufacturing processes. Enrich the product and resource definition by defining and validating a process plan. Work instructions ought to be clear and detailed if a company wants to achieve its production goals. When making these plans, digital visualization of resource and process changes can help accelerate time-to-production in any scenario and from any location when a business leverages its cloud. The factory of the future will need adaptable technology, scalable production, and a versatile workforce. Robotics and equipment should be reconfigurable to accommodate new products and changes. This reduces waste and overall costs as one.

Leaving the inside of the factory, consider how supply chain planning can be optimized across all planning horizons. Global conditions make this difficult right now, but that is why companies must adapt. Businesses need to plan for alternatives and minimize the impact of disruptions. While single source suppliers were once commonplace, organizations are now shifting to more diverse value networks. While single source suppliers come with lower costs, value networks bring higher resilience and greater flexibility. Advanced planning and scheduling allow businesses to leverage AI and machine learning for decision-making.

Building factories of the future can improve business operations and environmental practices in one. Rethinking manufacturing, production, and distribution could eliminate 45% of global emissions. At this time, manufacturing represents 54% of global energy consumption. Just 5 areas of manufacturing could reduce missions by an amount equal to eliminating all transportation.

Infographic Source: Dassault

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