Manufacturing Today Issue - 221 February 2024 | Page 22

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Smart factor

The top four strategies to maximize tech impact

Why do some smart factory initiatives succeed , and others fail ? What makes the difference between good and bad technology adoption ? These questions are more pressing today than ever .

Research firm Gartner says more than half of manufacturers ( 54 percent ) will increase technology spending by at least 10 percent in 2024 and that business intelligence and analytics software are top priorities as manufacturers transition to smart factories .
Make UK echoed Gartner ’ s findings in its 2024 Executive Survey , which shows accelerating technology use to improve manufacturing efficiency , productivity and environmental performance .
Multiple factors are driving adoption . High energy costs mean more manufacturers are exploring how to run machines more efficiently , and most manufacturers now recognize that technology offers the best route to greater productivity and prosperity .
And , importantly , technology providers are better attuned to the needs of most manufacturing businesses .
Previously , manufacturers wanting new technology such as machine monitoring had to invest tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds in complex enterprise-scale systems requiring expert installation , integration and configuration to work within their IT infrastructure .
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