The Next Industrial Revolution spurred by a Lockdown

How will the Industry and specifically manufacturing sector change after emerging from this unprecedented Covid19 Crisis?

One of my associates, Pranshu, asked me a question on email. Being a millennial, he displayed the right level of curiosity and courage to ask difficult questions. Lack of historical baggage and seeing things for what they are is a unique faculty available only to GenNext.

Would the Lock-down change Engineering?

Would remote work become the New Normal?

Would physical labor be replaced by Automation?

Would collaborative robots be accepted for general work?

How would youngsters spend the "newly found time" due to saving in the commute and lack of social spots?

Should they read books, learn IT skills, explore remote work possibilities, diversify into other professions, citizen science?

This spurred me to write this blog.

The world has become smaller, yet Again. 

Social distancing and Emotional bonding is the new "Cool-thing" in times of CORONA. The new normal. Remote Collaboration. Work From Anywhere. The IT and soft services industry such as education, consulting, banking, supply chain enablers etc will surely go Virtual, if not already so. Also more time on hand to try out new things. Explore hobbies. New Business Models. Virtual has become Real!

Work processes which were early considered to be possible "Only across the table" or "Face-to-face" have suddenly become seen a "remote" possibility. Remote has become Possible!

Moving things...

There will be significant rise in courier services and product distribution aggregators. (Even liquor is being home delivered in Mumbai as a rule. No over-the-counter sale). Transportation will be more of goods and less of people. 

Wider the Net, better is the catch.

Talent will be available for remote working. This will mean better talent, more cost effectiveness and better geographic spread. This will also mean better diversity, both regional and gender. Personal biases will be replaced by virtual ones. Professional women will have better opportunities, but the stress on homemakers may increase. 

New paradigm.

There will be significant growth in hub and spoke model in manufacturing sector. More subcontracting. Earlier this was driven only my cost now it will be driven by social distancing. The concentration of jobs in metros will reduce and on rural economy will grow, and that's a good thing.

Energy sector which is both, a source and resource for manufacturing sector, will see a dramatic change due to reduced travel and environmental imperatives. Demand for electricity will increase. And that for transportation fuel will reduce. Alternate energy sources will see a rise. Research into fuel cells is inevitable. 

The game has changed.

Industry 4.0 was supposed to be Digital and Robotics which will surely be the case... But Covid19 has added pressure and urgency for the same. Manufacturing has evolved from One off by Artisans to Batch/ Industrial to Mass Assembly Line to Robotics. 

Now is the time for Distributed manufacturing... Parts and small assemblies made in remote, rural locations with micro automation. 3D printing will develop to its true potential. Assemblies in factories predominantly by Robots. (Read the near-future Sci-Fi "Daemon" and "Freedom" by Daniel Suarez).

Coming Attractions! 

The things that will pan out in next few months will give impetus to Industry 5.0 where Products will be "Grown" instead of"Manufactured". The next revolution is bound to be Bio-technology and Genetics. (Read the near-future Sci-Fi "Change Agent" by Daniel Suarez).