The waves of evolution in engineering

Imagine where we’d be without the engineering feats we’re all too familiar with today. Hard to imagine, I know. At the end of a long day at work, we come home to comfortable and efficient living spaces, decked out with appliances that are both time and cost-effective. The pandemic would have been twice as difficult to endure if we didn’t have telephones, radios, and television to keep in touch with loved ones, receive the latest updates from authorities, or pass the time spent in isolation. Through imaging technologies, engineering has changed the way we view ourselves and the world around us. There’s no limit to where innovation in engineering might propel us to in the coming years.

Engineering was first conceptualised with human ability in mind. The very first tools were invented to accommodate human sustenance. Before buildings towered over our heads, humans have been innovating tools or devices to solve problems or improve their state of living. The Egyptians, for instance, used wooden trunks to drag material across deserts efficiently, as opposed to carrying these by hand. The birth of the mechanical spinning wheel in 1775 changed industrial engineering for good.

By the centenary of British settlement, a thriving manufacturing industry had matured in Australia, producing a range of goods sufficient to supply most domestic needs. From the earliest times, manufacturing’s contribution to Australia’s economic development has been immense. Australia in the 1950s enjoyed a rich and diverse manufacturing sector, with a third of the population employed in it. In the early 1990s, tariffs were cut drastically, adversely affecting the manufacturing sector, and sending Australia down the path of deindustrialisation.

On a global level, the mid-19th century saw new processing methods, most notably for steel and petroleum. It reshaped transportation, construction, and manufacturing. In the 20th century, engineering electrified the world. It took us to the skies and gave us the power to explore space. It continues to help cure our thirst, cleaning and making our waters safe for drinking. It has even revolutionised the way we produce food, and has helped simplify our everyday lives.

Racing to embrace digital technologies

Manufacturing and engineering have come a long way since the rapid innovation of the Industrial Revolution. Operations have shifted from machine production to computerised manufacturing and design. Since then, data has been the name of the game. Manufacturers easily sift through datasets without sacrificing workflow. This wide exposure to data has helped detect anomalies and has played a huge role in making predictions, ultimately improving efficiency and streamlining processes in a more uniformed approach.

Now Industry 4.0 is upon us, and plenty of people are welcoming manufacturing automation and information exchange across operations with open arms. Many are also going beyond computer automation and are shifting to cyber-physical machines. This includes game changers like the Internet of Things, machine learning, and smart manufacturing robots.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is also being widely embraced in manufacturing, and is a key piece in the larger trend of fully automated production or “smart factories”. AI systems have the potential to transform the way companies run their production lines, enabling greater efficiency by enhancing human capabilities, and providing real-time insights, facilitating design and product innovation.

The impact of innovation in engineering extends beyond financial value. As the digital age continues at full speed, many industries grapple with a state of constant change and instability. Innovations such as the first generation of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) have helped ease and simplify the way these industries work. Smart sensors and intelligent devices within products are easier to get a hold of today.

Manufacturers today are in a race to embrace digital technologies. To remain a strong backbone of the global economy, manufacturers are adopting technologies such as Industry 4.0. Gone are the days of laborious mass production models in manufacturing. Today, integrated and seamless automated factories reign supreme.

Meeting evolving needs

Engineering processes began at the birth of humanity and provided solutions to the different challenges facing people. It seems safe to say innovation will continue driving engineering and manufacturing in the coming years. What we’re seeing today may very well be the early days of the next Industrial Revolution – Industry 5.0. From its early innovations, Industry 5.0 has the potential to transform the modern manufacturing processes, enabling humans and machines to work together in unison. This will pair the unique, cognitive skills of people with the precise, technical skills of robots, fostering an innovative culture in the workforce.

Engineers have been and will continue to be critical in advancing technologies that will allow individuals to work, learn, and play in new and interesting ways. Engineers of the future will have to confront a society accustomed to constant change. Changes to market developments and consumer preferences will push companies to develop more innovative solutions to meet evolving production needs.

Scott Philbrook is Interim Managing Director – Australia & New Zealand at RS Components.