The metal fabrication industry has come a long way since we started smelting bronze in clay furnaces centuries ago. We’re still honing our skills and learning to make the most of t...
Using Collaborative Robotics The metal fabrication industry is no stranger to robotics. It made sense to use robots for jobs that might be too dangerous for human workers, but they were massive and required their own working spaces. Today, robotics technology has evolved to the point where these devices can work safely alongside team members to complete tasks. These collaborative robots are ideal for dangerous or tedious tasks.
They may also help offset the industry’s 290,000-person labor shortage. This has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which is driving even more people out of work. Implementing Automation and CNC Machines Computer numerical control (CNC) machines are an integral part of the metal fabrication industry, but until recently, they required human intervention and programming to function. Incorporating automation into the CNC portion of metal fabrication can remove some repetitiveness from this step, increasing efficiency and productivity in the long run. Eliminating repetition reduces the chance of employees developing repetitive stress injuries, which also opens them up for better opportunities in their careers.
CNC automation is becoming more popular during 2020 and will continue to thrive as the industry moves into the future. Upgrading Cybersecurity New technology is slowly taking over metal fabrication as a whole, and with this change comes the need for increased cybersecurity to ensure networks remain secure. A survey found that between 2017 and 2018, 88% of manufacturing executives reported at least one cyber incident during the previous 12 months. That could include an attack, data theft, or other cyberthreats.
Adopting Agile Methodologies Modern aluminum smelting techniques might use a method that can trace its roots all the way back to 1886, but the industry itself needs to embrace agility in the modern age. This has become increasingly apparent in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic threw an enormous wrench in operations. Things may start returning to normal in the next year or two as COVID-19 vaccines become available and it becomes safe to return to work. Embracing Digitization Like many industries, metal fabrication has been slow to adopt the digitization that is quickly defining the rest of the world. It’s essential to know that building a technology-based platform doesn’t mean eliminating the human factor. Rather, it’s a step in the right direction regarding efficiency and productivity. Business owners in metal fabrication need to take this time to embrace digitization and make the most out of the tools available to them.
Using 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing 3D printing may have started as a tool for hobbyists, but it’s quickly emerging as one of the most versatile tools in nearly every industry. In metal fabrication, additive manufacturing provides a new level of customization to an already versatile industry. Metal powder bed fusion allows manufacturers to create nearly anything with almost no waste because any unused powder can be recycled and used again.