Citrix Study Reveals IT Trends In Manufacturing

By Cheryl Knight, contributing writer

Earlier this year, Citrix released The Annual Technology Landscape Report , including predictions of what the next five years might bring to the nation’s workplaces — including in manufacturing. According to the latest report, 2016 marks a year when trends in 3D printing, automation, and data are set to significantly impact the manufacturing sector.

The report states “Imagine a 3D printer operated by a robot (like Baxter) with automated shipping like Amazon (Kiva). 3D printing has the potential to change how goods are produced, distributed, supported, and finalized.” It also points out, however, 3D printing currently takes 50 to 100 times the energy as injection molding, so although some products can be manufactured this way, others will consider it in the future when it is more energy — and cost— efficient.

In addition, the report points out “we are in an age where the physical blueprints for anything can be easily captured, shared, and then be reprinted (at least the shape of the item) … The electronic guts of these devices will soon be able to be shared and printed just as easily, with the advent of printable and flexible electronics.”

According to an article from Manufacturers Monthly, Citrix predicts the tipping point for all of this innovation is the year 2016. At this point, improved resolution in 3D printing and increased affordability should provide just two of the areas seeing improvement. Another will be in the materials available to print with, including graphene, a strong, carbon material. With the reduction in costs, 3D printing looks to become a major player in the manufacturing process.

Taking Advantage Of Emerging Technologies
Convincing existing customers to invest in this future area of technological growth might initially be a hard sell for VARs, as their customers might remain reluctant to invest in as-of-yet unproven technologies. But, with companies constantly looking for ways to cut costs, automation and mobility are looking more like viable answers, developing more efficient operations within the manufacturing process itself.

“While general-purpose robotics will help increase output, there will still be a significant human element,” according to Guy Bieber, Citrix’s director of strategy and architecture, as quoted by Manufacturers Monthly. “As organizations increasingly look to use the Internet of Things (IoT) and create applications for it, such as how connected devices can be secured, how they will communicate, and how they will work together to do greater things, the hype around IoT will convert into real value.”