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Nov 9, 2021 | Time to read: 2 min
Erin Caldwell has developed and executed go-to-market strategies for more than a dozen SaaS companies. She relies on a combination of compelling storytelling and customer-centric thinking to help demonstrate the value of Drishti to the marketplace. Erin is based in Boston.
Manufacturing is massive. The industry permeates every corner of our lives: the things we as consumers buy, use and eat; the things others ship; the things businesses sell; the things surgeons insert and repair; it all comes from manufacturing. So when a disaster hits the manufacturing sector, the effects of that disaster — be it a tsunami or fire, a labor strike, a coup, inflation or a global pandemic — ripple outward in a big way.
Like with other areas on earth, manufacturing can be split into pre- and post-Covid phases. It's important to note that “post-Covid” doesn’t suggest the pandemic is over; rather, it’s the change in mindset, expectations and preparedness that came from enduring a disaster of that proportion as an industry.
At Drishti, we wanted to get the pulse of the post-Covid manufacturing world. How had the disruption impacted manufacturers’ outlook for the future? How much of a priority were manufacturers putting on adaptability versus efficiency? What investments were manufacturers making to shield themselves not only from external threats, but the challenges that arise internally, as well?
And what role do human workers play in the future of manufacturing?
To find out, we surveyed 400 senior manufacturing leaders from around the globe. And the message they had to share came through loud and clear:
Manufacturing adaptability depends on people.
Respondents were from across manufacturing industries, but primarily represented the automotive, medical device, consumer goods, industrial goods and electronics industries. Here are some of the stats that we learned:
73% of respondents agreed with this statement, “The more manual you are, the more adaptable you are.”
But in the very next question, they noted that 62% of new technology investments go toward improving efficiency, not adaptability.
Regardless of the industry, the top three internal challenges to production are productivity concerns, quality issues and training and onboarding new line associates.
58% of manufacturers are certain that their industries will change in the next few years.
There’s a lot more in the report, but rather than dropping teasers here, you’d do better to access the full version. It’s a great conversation starter about how the industry is feeling in a post-Covid era, and why adaptability should be top of mind.
