The global electronics manufacturing industry is the fastest growing sector, currently valued at USD 1.7 trillion and expected to cross USD 2.4 trillion by the year 2020. Over the past few decades, modern technology has played a critical role in driving the growth of this segment, leading consumers to buy innovative and smart electronic products. Moreover, owing to its dynamic nature and the dire need to control costs and improve efficiency, the electronics manufacturing industry has always been at the center of the latest technological innovations.
 
Top electronics manufacturers like Apple, Samsung, Microsoft, and Sony are making sizeable investments in technology to capitalize on modern trends, expand their tech capabilities, and stay competitive. These manufacturers are using digital tools to integrate technologies beyond their primary area of expertise, boost revenue and productivity, improve product quality, meet customer demands, reduce waste and operational costs, and follow eco-friendly manufacturing practices.
 
Disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence, nano-electronics, cloud computing, internet of things (IoT), advanced robotics, virtual reality, and big data, among others are creating the foundation for next-generation manufacturing processes and ecosystems. In fact, the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) is transforming electronics manufacturing processes, bringing about a seismic shift in the way products are manufactured.
 
Manufacturers are relying on smart factories to automate complex and recurring operations, store and exchange critical information, and make relevant decisions with minimum human intervention. Though connectivity within the manufacturing operations isn’t new, the factory of the future (commonly referred to as factory 4.0) is employing information technology (IT) and operations technology (OT) to drive manufacturing, maintenance, inventory tracking, and supply chain operations. Consequently, modern technology is enabling electronics manufacturers to manage an efficient and agile shop floor, reduce production downtime, and predict and adapt to the changes in the system, thereby offering them competitive advantage. 
 
Thefollowing infographic by ICRFQ.com reveals useful facts and figures on how technology is shaping the future of the electronics manufacturing industry, thereby enabling plant owners to connect all production means to enable interaction in real time, optimize production tools, and improve supply chain efficiency. The information shared below will also help you understand the challenges faced by manufacturing firms in adopting these technologies.