Page 52 - ENGINEERING REVIEW APRIL 2022 DIGITAL MAGAZINE

INTERFACE
#ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

The Internet of Things (IoT) is Touchless Service Model Supported Tools can now be made in 3D
still the most significant thing by VR and AR printing, a procedure that was
globally. For field service departments, COVID-19 previously prohibitively expensive and
This year, the Internet of Things (IoT) has proven to be a severe roadblock time-consuming. It took months for
is again at the top of trend lists in that prevents technicians from travelling manufacturers to make the moulds,
the industrial business because of its to job locations to install equipment or jig and fixtures essential for the mass
adaptability and innovation. perform repairs. Assistive technologies, manufacturing of heavy equipment, and
Manufacturers may now use real- such as augmented reality (AR) and many manufacturers relied on the support
time data from the Internet of Things virtual reality (VR) allow technicians of tooling businesses based overseas.
(IoT) to make data-driven strategic to provide remote support via AR and In recent years, 3D printing has become
decisions and achieve a wide range VR-enabled devices to guide consumers an integral part of the automotive and
of objectives, such as lowering costs, through simple diagnostics and repairs, aerospace manufacturing industries
increasing efficiency, enhancing safety so that site visits are restricted. because of its ability to produce tooling
and creating new products. As per It opens up numerous possibilities for on-site in a matter of days.
reports from the MPI Group, more businesses. A customer’s preference
than 30 per cent of manufacturing for having a technician do a repair Ways to improve the customer
processes now include smart devices on-site rather than exploring touchless experience
and embedded intelligence. According service solutions was common in the In today’s marketplace, businesses must
to the manufacturers surveyed, IoT past. COVID-19 has made it easier for be prepared to interact with customers
will be integrated into 34 per cent of manufacturers to test new processes online and offline. The pandemic has
manufacturing processes and 32 per and procedures to incorporate them forced manufacturers to reconsider their
cent of goods. in product design. Reducing exposure omnichannel strategy and communicate
Remote monitoring and predictive risks benefits both customers and field with their customers in new ways.
maintenance have re-ignited interest in service specialists, while manufacturers Manufacturers are rapidly
the Internet of Things(IoT) in the wake gain from improving the reliability of their implementing customer experience
of COVID-19. For manufacturers, the products. optimisation technology, such as product
Internet of Things (IoT) allows the remote digitisation and customer master data
monitoring of equipment performance 3D printing speeds up and lowers management solutions. . Manufacturers
and identification of potential issues the cost of production. will be able to cultivate long-term
before a malfunction even occurs; for Additive manufacturing has relied on connections with customers using
field service personnel, it means a better 3D printing for nearly four decades. these customer-centric technologies
understanding of the problem and Prototyping is a cost-effective approach throughout the product lifecycle. They
possible solutions before they even arrive for product designers to test and debug can get significant consumer insight that
at the site, allowing them to get in and new goods. Manufacturers rely on 3D will help them sustain their customers’
out faster than before with improved printing to generate items on demand loyalties and generate income in the
efficiency and safety. rather than keep stocks. long run.

50 | APRIL 2022