Industry 4.0, flexibility & robotics in focus
a new study by the Ulm-based logistics consultancy IWL AG, the keywords Industry 4.0, robots and personalization are among the trending topics in intralogistics in 2016.
In addition to trends and sentiments in the industry, the current study particularly examined the relationship between users and suppliers of intralogistics products.
Structure of the survey:
- Online survey of 88 representatives from the intralogistics industry
- 75% from senior management of their companies
- 50% users of intralogistics solutions, 30% manufacturers, 20% consultants
- The respondents showed a similar industry distribution, with a focus on automotive, consumer goods and retail.
Industry sentiment
Overall, the mood among both manufacturers and customers remains positive. The majority of respondents (63%) continue to rate the current sentiment as generally positive. Expectations are higher among users than among manufacturers, who offer a somewhat more mixed forecast (40% growth, 40% stagnation).
A key aspect of the study was the question of how well intralogistics manufacturers know and meet the needs of the market and its customers.
Different priorities among users and providers
When considering providers and users separately, it becomes apparent that priorities and challenges are sometimes weighted differently.
For users, increased system performance and capacity is the most important factor in their purchasing decisions (32%), followed by the solution's flexibility (27%). However, vendors assume that their customers prioritize quality (23%), followed by performance and capacity improvements (18%) and a smooth project flow (15%).
The situation is similar regarding the challenges, with 32% of users seeing the need for flexibility in handling peak and idle times as the main focus. Increased cost pressure and service demands from end customers (delivery time, returns) follow closely behind (22%). In contrast, manufacturers see cost pressure as by far the biggest challenge, at 56%.
Trending topics 2016
Performance and flexibility are THE buzzwords of 2016
As the survey revealed, users are primarily interested in solutions for optimizing these core elements of their productivity.
Industry 4.0
It remains the industry's trending topic this year. 44% of respondents see great potential in this area, and 24% consider it future-oriented. However, customers still lack concrete information and offerings from suppliers regarding the benefits and practical implementation of Industry 4.0.
robot
73% consider the use of robots in order picking to be a viable option. Their use is therefore particularly beneficial in sectors with stringent hygiene requirements (pharmaceutical or food industries).
A further increase in the age structure of the workforce could also be at least mitigated by increasing the automation of intralogistics processes. Regarding the labor market, the study also reveals that a third of respondents expect the current influx of refugees to provide potential new jobs.
personalization
The manufacturer-customer relationship is becoming increasingly individualized. Therefore, users in particular are demanding tools that support personalization in manufacturing, service, and product design. This is underscored by users' statements that customer requirements are an increasingly important criterion for them.
Conclusion
To develop products that meet high customer expectations, manufacturers should thoroughly understand their requirements. Given increasing sales volumes (e-commerce, strong overall economy) and simultaneously often decreasing batch sizes, greater flexibility in the design of logistics processes is also essential.
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