Industrial Trends for 2015: Impact on Jobs and Business Growth

What 2015 manufacturing and industrial trends will affect your job?  Your business?  What will come on strong and what will end up in the industrial scrap heap?  Here’s our 2015 predictions compiled after combing through many national and international sources:

• Higher Production & More Jobs – NAM reports that manufacturers will increase employees by 2.1% on average; MAPI Foundation projects a 3.5% jump in manufacturing production this year. Some even predict that manufacturing will outpace the GDP which hasn’t happened in a very long time. Industries predicted to have the most growth include: motor vehicles and related parts, energy infrastructure, medical care, business equipment, transportation infrastructure, and the housing supply chain.
• 3D printing. Everywhere. For every kind of conceivable application. If you still don’t believe it then get this – worldwide shipments of 3D printers are expected to grow 98 percent in 2015!
• Social Media – yes, even for heavy B2B industrial manufacturing and marketing; if you’re not already there, expect to be dragged kicking and screaming along the technology and social media path as your customers will expect it – demand it even.
• “Next Shoring” – to speed up the entire process of production to getting onto store shelves manufacturers will be developing products closer to where they will be sold, a more targeted step beyond the current but still newish trend of “reshoring”.
• Condition Based Maintenance – yes, we all know about it, but it’s going to be even bigger in 2015 for greater efficiency and reduced labor costs. Your Plant Managers will be all over this.
• IoT, that’s “Internet of Things” to you busy folks who don’t have time to read business journals, and it IS going to find you one way or another. It goes hand in hand with the term Big Data. IoT basically means “connected electronic devices controlled through a user-friendly hub, such as a tablet or smartphone app”. Experts predict there will be 26 billion devices by 2020 which means that IoT could also become a huge security concern in 2015, as if we didn’t already have enough security concerns (see below).
• Demand for Quality – there will be an even greater commitment to quality service and quality products. It’s just too easy these days to source and switch to a better product or service.   Which means we must all become laser-focused on creating a total corporate culture committed to quality at every level. Which means being better at: innovation, cost savings, customer care, and proactive about production standards.
• More Cyberattacks – If you haven’t been hit by hackers already, 2015 may be the year. You will need to build the strongest cyber security defense you can afford. You might know that China and Russia are major countries of origin for hackers, but did you know other major sources include Indonesia, North Korea (remember Sony?!), Germany, Ukraine, and Hungary.

Well, there you have it as we see it for 2015.  Prepare for an increasingly connected and technologically advanced world this year.  Play smart, guard your data, invest in modern technology wherever appropriate and make a plan to consistently maintain all of your equipment whether you use Condition Based Maintenance or Predictive Maintenance or whatever program works for you. 

About the Author: ACS Industrial Services is an independent industrial electronic repair center providing repairs for all types of industrial electronic equipment and most all manufacturers including power supplies, circuit boards, drives, servo motors, CNC equipment, encoders, monitors and touchscreens, test equipment, light curtains, and much more.  Rush Service is available and Two Year Warranties cover most repairs.  The customer service team is available to answer your questions and help solve your industrial electronic repair problems. You can reach them by calling 800-605-6419 or going to www.acsindustrial.com.