Technological Innovation Seen as Essential to Spur Growth in U.S. Manufacturing

A study affirms what SCMR has been forecasting for some time now. Supply chain managers can’t begin too early on technological upgrade to accommodate the “new economy.”

The 2016 Industrial Manufacturing Trends Report, published by PwC, asserts that investments in technology are “essential” for the growth of the U.S.manufacturing sector. According to the report, making strategic investments is one key to growth, particularly in fast-evolving industries.

Innovation is building a “data-driven factory of the future with robotics, augmented reality, 3D printing, Internet of Things and other technologies, creating an environment of higher productivity and reduced costs,” the report said.

The report added that many of the technological innovations used in manufacturing today will be commonplace within the next 5 to 10 years, meaning that manufacturing executives “must lead with an eye toward that reality, and not merely the current bottom line.”

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