Exposing the Top Ten Manufacturing Tech Trends of the 2020s

Feb. 28, 2019
The next decade will be wrought with technological change across the manufacturing industry. How painful or pleasurable that is depends on what you decide to invest time and energy on today.

No manufacturer wants to look at 2020 in hindsight full of regret about what could have been done differently. To prepare for all the critical transformations besetting the industry in the coming decade, which are not only poised to restructure your business, but the very nature of modern society, you have to know all the major technologies at play.

As a technology writer, I can tell you there is a heck of a lot at play. And some, but certainly not all, will work for you. Most likely, if your B.S. meter is calibrated correctly, you already have an inkling of the stinkers out there. Just as likely, you'll be surprised at how much "futuristic" tech is presently available to reduce the headaches and improve the KPIs at your plant or shop.

I've spent the better part of the last year vetting the best in preparation for directing the expo portion of our own large-scale production, the Manufacturing & Technology Conference & Expo. The following aren't all the tech trends that will define the next decade, but they'll all be at our event, and ones I recommend you spend some time researching, and in some cases, developing pilot projects around in the next year.

About the Author

John Hitch | Editor, Fleet Maintenance

John Hitch, based out of Cleveland, Ohio, is the editor of Fleet Maintenance, a B2B magazine that addresses the service needs for all commercial vehicle makes and models (Classes 1-8), ranging from shop management strategies to the latest tools to enhance uptime.

He previously wrote about equipment and fleet operations and management for FleetOwner, and prior to that, manufacturing and advanced technology for IndustryWeek and New Equipment Digest. He is an award-winning journalist and former sonar technician aboard a nuclear-powered submarine where he served honorably aboard the fast-attack submarine USS Oklahoma City (SSN-723).