In the 82nd episode of Burning Platform, we host Maggie Slowik, and Andrew Burton. Global Industry Directors for Manufacturing at IFS presenting a shortened version of a session they hosted at their Unleashed Event in Miami a few weeks ago.
They talk about the many challenges manufacturers face from supply chain disruptions, talent issues, navigating inflation, cybersecurity threats, growing ESG and other regulations among them. Manufacturing today is not for the faint hearted, but they talk about so many new opportunities that have opened up from those who persist with smart, connected products; circular economy thinking, the move of value to data and the changing mix of data – from 40% generated by machines in 2021 to 60% in 2025.
They talk about the metaverse. IFS is already well ahead with use of mixed reality in its field service scenarios. Andy and Maggie talk about it in the context of the shop floor.
They cover changing ecosystems and shortening supply chains from a geographic perspective as companies rethink “lean” and lowest-cost sourcing,
2050 seems a long way off. But they quote a young blogger who says that much earlier, by 2030, things are going to be essentially ownerless. “We already see the beginning of that with certain things like bikes, clothing as a rental, certainly cars. So we're sort of heading towards ‘Servitization”, a service-oriented future.” They provide several examples of products evolving to services during the session.
Very nicely done in about 30 minutes.
In a session I will run next week, you will see Bas de Vos, who runs IFS Labs, present many examples of the technologies which are rapidly changing the shop floor and the man/machine symbiosis in manufacturing.
