What have manufacturers learned after 2 years of the COVID 19 pandemic?

Two years of the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us the unexpected. Of course, manufacturers are always open to change, but the COVID-19 pandemic hitting the manufacturing industry seems to happen overnight, with profound and lasting effects. A year later, we can look back and see what manufacturers have learned about how to adapt and succeed in the face of adversity.

There are already thousands of successful, innovative producers who are tackling the challenges of a pandemic world. Here are some proven approaches that they are using and that you can replicate.
 

Automation is the most powerful strategy

The term VUCA refers to volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous conditions and it has never been more relevant. For manufacturers, automation has emerged as the most powerful strategy for success in the VUCA world, whether it's caused by the pandemic or virtually any other business challenge.

For decades, automation has helped manufacturers improve continuity, flexibility, competitiveness, productivity, and employee safety. In today's VUCA world, manufacturers are increasingly turning to collaborative automation. Intuitive, agile collaboration automation is a natural fit when changes happen quickly, time constraints on planning, budgeting, hiring and training employees in new skills, or reworking. Factory and company configuration on a large scale.
 

The supply chain needs a B plan

The global pandemic hit supply chains quickly and deeply, illustrating the vulnerability that has built up over the years. Manufacturers now know they need a Plan B in the event that remote production or supply is compromised and market demand changes. At the same time, many manufacturers have realized the advantage of being closer to their customers, even if it means being in areas with higher labor costs.

The key is being able to manage workers in terms of their availability and safety, and enhance their values ​​and skills to meet new production demands. Collaborative automation can help businesses of all sizes anticipate and respond more effectively to change, turning unexpected obstacles into new opportunities.
 

Labor shortage leads to opportunities

The previous off-shoring trend was driven by lower-cost labor. However, advances in collaborative automation have dramatically increased productivity and reduced costs in some manufacturing processes. Many of these can now be easily re-registered and deployed domestically. While the share of labor in traditionally low-cost countries has seen a double-digit year-over-year increase, affordable collaborative robots make automation easy. more accessible, regardless of company size.
 

Adapt to meet changing needs

Uncertainty places increased demands on companies to get a penny. What if they suddenly had to produce something different than the factory was originally designed for? What if the market suddenly demanded more customization?

Collaborative automation is designed for easy learning and rapid deployment so internal employees can move, change, and redeploy with minimal hand-holding.
 

Meet new safety requirements

The importance of physical balance during COVID-19 has made infection control a new priority, and for many manufacturers, this new reality will continue indefinitely. Many successful manufacturers have been able to reopen more quickly with collaborative robots. By including cobots on standard production lines, these companies can offset the risks faced and create a safe distance between workers while keeping production levels high.
 

Learn more about navigating the Covid 19 landscape

In many ways, a year after the COVID-19 pandemic, we finally see a promising future. Thanks to collaborative automation, manufacturers are uncovering innovative new opportunities to tackle a VUCA world and become smarter, sharper, and better prepared for any eventuality.