As we approach the midpoint of 2021, things are certainly a lot different than they were when the year started. Not only is the weather getting nicer, but more of us are able to get out and enjoy it thanks to the available vaccines. This is also a good time for taking stock of our progress over the course of the year so far, so let’s check in on some of the 2021 predictions for the manufacturing industry. A lot of these predictions have proven to be pretty accurate, so it’s a good idea to keep them in mind as we plan for business growth for the rest of the year.
Manufacturing predictions of 2021 included:
- Localized production
- Increase in quality
- Investment in workforce
- Focus on long-term sustainability
- Increase in advanced technology
You might not see the benefits of these trend right away, but these all represent positive changes for manufacturing as a whole. Keeping an eye on trends like these helps you to prepare for change and stay successful over the long term, so check out this article from Forbes that talks more about how to do that here.
These trends are important to your customers, too. They want quality products, of course, but they also are interested in doing businesses with innovative companies that use efficient production methods. Trends like nearshoring and sustainability help you to meet those demands.
Many large Aerospace manufacturers now require that their suppliers invest in new technologies—but the fact is that it can take years to get up-and-running with those technologies. Larger manufacturers are vetting their providers in search of those who actively embrace the new technology process, rather than those who are waiting until everyone else is already up to speed.
Understanding your customers’ interests might not necessarily change the final product, but it might shift the process. Consider investments in artificial intelligence coupled with education for workers to rise to managerial positions. Making one small change for sustainability won’t fix everything, but it doesn’t continue to harm the planet.
When you think about everything we’ve experienced over the past year, it can be mind-boggling. It is good to pause and acknowledge just how far manufacturing has come and how it still stands to this day as an essential industry. As we close out the first half of 2021, manufacturers have made incredible progress from where they were at the beginning of the pandemic—and will only continue to grow.