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A recent survey of 200 global manufacturing decision makers found that the most pressing challenges manufacturers are likely to face in 2024 includes creating more agile and resilient production cycles. This is due in large part to the continued skilled labor shortage, and how increased consumer demand for a variety of goods is forcing manufacturers to figure out how to maintain productivity in the face of a limited labor pool. As a result, manufacturers are incorporating more advanced automation solutions to help unlock greater levels of productivity and efficiency in the coming year. In fact, creating a more connected ecosystem can accelerate the enclosure assembly and installation process, and this helps increase your speed to market and makes for more flexible production.

One of the more pressing concerns for automation architects in the last year is specifying equipment that can help manufacturers reduce the footprint of their industrial automation infrastructure. This is particularly important for manufacturers who are looking to retrofit existing facilities for warehouse automation, as older buildings often come with unique floor plans or space constraints.

A recent article on the challenges manufacturers will face in 2024 highlighted that the continued shortage of skilled labor remains one of the biggest obstacles in the way of productivity and growth. What’s more, consumer demand for new, innovative products — electric vehicles in the automotive space, or plant-based foods in the food and beverage industry — is pushing manufacturers to diversify production programs, and the more specialized skills required to facilitate these variable production programs only exacerbates the current labor shortage.