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How will Industry 4.0 impact U.S. manufacturing?


The Fourth Industrial Revolution is picking up steam in warehouse aisles and factory floors around the world.

As advancing technology brings the manufacturing industry closer to the vision of a ‘smart factory,' the future of U.S. manufacturing depends on how well industry leaders play the new cards in the deck: robotics, data, automation and 3D printing—without overlooking the value of human capital.
So far, the U.S. appears ready for change, earning a “well positioned for the future” nod from the World Economic Forum's 2018 Future of Production assessment, which evaluated production structures in countries around the world. While human-free warehouses and factories are still a long way off, more sophisticated, tech-fueled automation is already becoming a standard feature of the nation's industrial buildings.

These days, drones equipped with sensors can scan bar codes for inventory purposes, safely restock and pick merchandise on high shelves, and move small items quickly around the warehouse. Meanwhile, robotics and other technologies such as 3D printing, connected sensors and artificial intelligence are drastically transforming the way goods are manufactured.

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