What trends are affecting manufacturing?
For controls engineers building machinery for factories or plants, several key industry trends are crucial to consider, Automation World reported.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming a valuable tool, particularly in predictive maintenance and quality control. AI applications like machine vision are gaining traction, with the ability to adapt to changes in production environments, such as lighting variations.
Another significant trend is the growing emphasis on connectivity and data management. While technologies like MQTT have improved communication between systems, the challenge lies in structuring and modeling data for effective analysis, particularly in cloud environments.
Engineers are also expected to prioritize cybersecurity, given the rise in cyber threats as operational technology (OT) increasingly integrates with information technology (IT). Auditing systems based on NIST standards and working closely with IT professionals are important strategies to protect sensitive systems.
