Munro & Associates CEO Offers 'A Peek into the Future' of Manufacturing at MFG Meeting

ORLANDO, FL -- March 6, 2015: During today's MFG Meeting in Orlando, Fla., Sandy Munro, CEO, Munro & Associates, provided attendees his perspective into what the future may hold for the manufacturing industry. Munro and his consulting firm recently completed a systematic teardown and analysis of the BMW i3 urban electric vehicle, which he considers to be "the most revolutionary car in terms of creative engineering and manufacturing since Henry Ford's Model T."

During his presentation, "A Peek into the Future" Munro discussed: the revolutionary vehicle; key product, technology, material and process innovations; as well as its ramifications on the manufacturing world.

"James Watt's steam engine, Eli Whitney's cotton gin, the Ford Model T, Eastman Kodak, Frank Whittles' jet engine, Chester Carlson and the Xerox machine, Ruth Handler and Barbie, Steve Jobs' first computer and many other game-changing technologies caused revolutions in their respective industries," said Munro. "Those that got the message of change forged ahead and the rest became historic footnotes."

According to Munro, the BMW i3 introduced material and process technologies that will cause this type of radical change not just in the automotive manufacturing sector, but also in the aircraft, high-speed train, household appliance, computer and cell phone industries. How these industries choose to react to the new technologies and processes introduced through the BMW i3 will determine the next generation of innovators and the next generation of footnotes.

Munro offered the following advice for companies looking to make an investment into their manufacturing future, "First you need to honestly assess the gap between your current technology and the technology you're striving to achieve. Next, you need to benchmark the market, not only in your own industry, but also in other industries to assess where cross overs in technology are being used and where you truly stand in terms of technology. Once this is established, you'll then have a better sense of the investment you will need to achieve your desired goals. Finally, it's critical to make sure your new technologies are mature enough to achieve right first time in the manufacturing stage, even if that costs extra time and money at the engineering phase."

During his 30-minute presentation, Munro also covered the following topics:

Reshoring: the closing gap between offshoring and the cost effectiveness of keeping manufacturing in North America; Additive manufacturing and the role it will play in the future of the machine tool industry; and Strategies on how to best invest in a company's future. The MFG Meeting: Manufacturing for Growth (March 4 to 7 at the Orlando World Marriott Resort) brings together the manufacturing community to learn, network and be inspired. This year's meeting is focusing on the power of manufacturing, which is driven by innovation, design, insight, and people. The presentations from industry leaders provide creative ways to optimize the drivers of manufacturing and provide solutions to strengthen businesses. The event is organized by the Association for Manufacturing Technology, the National Tooling and Machining Association and the Precision Metalforming Association.