8OCTOBER 2024TECH OUTLOOKIN MY OPINIONBy Chow Woai Sheng, Vice President of Global Instrument Manufacturing & General Manager, Agilent Technologies Globally, manufacturers struggle to weather the poly crisis unleashed by inflation, supply chain disruption, soaring energy prices, and climate change. Sitting at the eye of the storm are the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries. The gaps in the production and distribution of these products point to serious vulnerabilities in the supply chain that compromise healthcare and researchers' readiness to fight the crisis that is yet to come. Amid the uncertainty, several manufacturers are demonstrating that it is still possible to improve competitiveness by deploying advanced technologies to drive productivity, sustainability, and supply chain resilience. The high-impact way to achieve these is by deploying large digital transformation programs at scale through Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies across multiple sites. Leaders of Advanced Manufacturing The 4IR technologies make production smarter and more flexible in navigating change when change is needed. Today, 132 factories worldwide have been recognized by World Economic Forum and McKinsey & Company as global leaders in smart manufacturing for successfully adopting at scale the game-changing technologies enabled by artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, robotics, data analytics, and industrial internet of things (IIoT). These 132 factories are part of the Global Lighthouse Network, acknowledged for their ability to drive impact at scale that has remained the essential differentiator, resulting in double-digit improvements in financial, operational, and sustainability metrics as their markers of success. In 2022, Agilent in Singapore joined the Lighthouse to leverage 4IR technology to increase performance in the manufacture of scientific instruments. By embracing 4IR technologies, Agilent Singapore's 172,000 sq ft facility with more than 800 employees has optimized productivity by 60 percent and increased output by 80 percent, all while advancing environmental sustainability through increased efficiency and greater reliance on renewable energy.Digital Transformation The key to a successful digital transformation journey observed at Agilent is the leadership's commitment SHAPING THE NEXTCHAPTER OF MANUFACTURINGChow Woai Sheng
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