• FMS systems which deliver directly into warehouse, and do not require labor
• The use of robots that have vision, and tactile sensing to replace human labor
• Technology will make 100% inspection feasible. Thus making faster process adjustment possible.
• Computer diagnosis will improve estimation of machine failure, and guide work crews repairing failures.
• International coordination and control of manufacturing facilities.
• Customers have completely custom orders made immediately, and to exact specifications, and at a lower cost
• Networks will tend to eliminate the barriers caused by international borders
• Standards will be developed which make installation of a new machine trivial
• Networking between manufacturers and suppliers will streamline the inventory problems
• Marketing will be reduced, as customer desires are met individually, and therefore do not need to be anticipated by research.
• Finished goods inventories will fall as individual consumer needs are met directly.
• Better management software, hardware, and fixturing techniques will push machine utilization towards 100%
• The task of Design and Process Planning will become highly automated, therefore reducing wasted time on repetitious design, and discovering careless mistakes.
• Simplification of systems overall - MRP, MPCS, etc.