Advanced Manufacturing: The key to future competitiveness (original) (raw)

Advanced manufacturing includes the production of advanced materials and advanced technologies. Manufacturing industries continue to transform with every progression of the technological era. As advancement in technology shapes manufacturing, the role of manufacturing to economic development and competitiveness continues to change. The purpose of the study is to determine whether advanced manufacturing systems lies within the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0). Descriptive statistical analysis was used to assess the effect of advanced manufacturing systems on competitiveness in order to determine the impact on productivity, manufacturing employment and manufacturing contribution to economic competition. The research results revealed a proportionally high increase in productivity and production output that directly correlates with the application of advanced manufacturing systems. However, employment in manufacturing and creation of new jobs correlate negatively with advancement in technology. Therefore, the question of economic competitiveness still remains contentious. 1. Introduction Manufactured goods have been satisfying the needs and wants of customers since the beginning of mankind. The objective of manufacturing is one of providing products that are essential to customer's physical and social needs. In the contemporary economy, however, this objective has to be fulfilled competitively through effective processing, efficient use of material, as well as reduction and elimination of waste in production. This means that the techniques and methods of manufacturing are no longer just driven by the desire to satisfy needs and wants, they are now driven by competition and the desire to be competitive and profitable while pursuing to satisfy customer needs and wants. This contemporary desire drives and directs innovation and investment choices which organizations create in order to obtain the technology and manufacturing methods to enhance competitiveness and profits. Therefore, many multinational organizations and developed countries are focusing on large scale resources using more nascent technological manufacturing methods that are collectively known as Advanced Manufacturing Systems. In Germany, this is pursued under the umbrella of Industry 4.0 (Schuh et al 2014) so called because researchers believe that we are in the fourth generation of industrial transformation. Much like most transformations, prevailing manufacturing industries have progressed over time, with some regions leading the transformation through innovation and technology while other regions are lagging behind. The first recorded form of manufacturing was driven by individually talented artisans who crafted goods by hand. This developed into more organized methods of production systems, in which these skilled craftsman were brought together in a coordinated production systems. The era that followed, was known as the First Industrial Revolution, which began in Great Britain – the dawn of mechanical power, with machines that were powered by water and steam (Ezell, 2016). The development and introduction of electrical power in production lines brought about the Second Industrial Revolution, which was characterized by labour mass production, assembly line manufacturing, and high consumption of steel products. Productivity in manufacturing continued to increase with less and less