Manufacturing today is leaner and greener than ever. Many engineers are focusing on lightweight materials and sustainable production initiatives. In addition, additive manufacturing is transforming how a wide variety of products are designed and assembled.
Those trends are forcing manufacturers to invest in new tools and technologies ranging from collaborative robots to wearable devices. In fact, the 21st annual ASSEMBLY State of the Profession survey finds that more than one out of three companies (42 percent) will be allocating more resources toward assembly operations during the next 12 months.