Advanced manufacturing is often thought of in relation to high-value and advanced industries, such as aerospace and semiconductor fabrication. However, while advances in materials science and physics continue to influence manufacturing innovation, today’s impact is most visible through solutions like 3D printing, automation, and intelligent production technologies. So what are the current advanced manufacturing methods, and how are they changing? We’ll cover that below.
Here at Method CRM, we’ve been supporting QuickBooks-based businesses since 2010. Method is loved by business owners in the manufacturing sector for its real-time, two-way QuickBooks sync, and end-to-end sales automation. This article is for those looking into advanced manufacturing, how it works today, and what might happen in the future.
Table of Contents
What is advanced manufacturing? 🤔
Advanced manufacturing is the process of using new technologies to transform both the quality of the product and the overall manufacturing process. This manufacturing process blends physical capabilities, like robotics and advanced materials, with intelligent systems like machine learning and neural networks. The result is manufacturing that significantly improves from both an operational standpoint as well as a product one. It’s basically the natural progression of traditional manufacturing using the application of technology.
Stable processes, manual coordination.
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Uses fixed equipment & established methods of workflow as a basis for production
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Typically involves quality assurance that occurs at the end of a process
- Data lives in separate tools like spreadsheets or even paper
Connected, adaptive, feedback-driven.
- Processes are automated using robots and tech
- Quality control shifts earlier (predictive + in-process checks)
- Data is shared in real time, so all stakeholders can see
In advanced manufacturing, the operational end is just as important as the equipment component. Those using advanced manufacturing principles will measure operations and respond when demand shifts or something else happens where the whole production line might need to be edited from an operational end.
The chart below uses an index of 0–100 to explain the relative lift advanced manufacturing provides across core operational teams. Think of it as a way to visualize how better connectivity and data improve feedback and general teamwork.
Key characteristics
Advanced manufacturing is defined less by a single machine and more by a set of outcomes:
- Flexibility
- Precision
- Speed
- Digital integration
These characteristics align closely with Industry 4.0. Industry 4.0 is a cool name, but what it represents may be the biggest shift in how we produce products since the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century. It’s a shift to “smart manufacturing” where everything lives on a cloud, and a good amount of the process is completely automated using innovative technologies. Advanced manufacturing is a core pillar of Industry 4.0, where everything is interconnected through data.
Core advanced manufacturing processes ⚙️
Robotics & automation
Robotics and automation are among the most important parts of the advanced manufacturing industry.
Automation typically falls into three categories:
| Automation type | How it works | SMB-friendly examples |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed | High-volume, repeatable motion with minimal changeovers. | Conveyors or regular packaging lines. |
| Programmable | Reconfigurable instructions and sequences for different products | CNC programs, robot arms for pick-and-place across SKUs. |
| Intelligent | Adapts based on sensor input, such as vision systems | Vision-guided inspection or adaptive torque control. |
Is additive manufacturing the same as 3D printing?
Additive manufacturing is a manufacturing technique that builds parts layer by layer, with 3D printing being the most well-known. But other than 3D printing, additive manufacturing can involve multiple different techniques and materials. These can be anything from polymers to metal powders, used for things like prototyping, tooling, and, increasingly, finished components.
Advanced materials & composite manufacturing
Advanced materials are materials that expand what’s possible in terms of strength, weight, performance and durability. In particular, advancements in manufacturing have revolutionized what we understand about strength and heat tolerance. This includes composite materials and emerging applications of nanotechnology in coatings and other material properties.
Digital technologies powering advanced processes 👨🏻💻
Artificial intelligence & machine learning
AI and Machine Learning (ML) are transforming the manufacturing process in several key ways, particularly in predictive quality control and process optimization.
| AI/ML capability | What it improves | Operational result |
|---|---|---|
| Predictive quality control | Defect prevention and faster root-cause analysis | Higher product quality, fewer escapes |
| Process optimization | Cycle time, yields, changeover performance | Better throughput without overtime spikes |
| Waste reduction | Overprocessing, scrap, excess motion | Lower material waste and cost per unit |
Internet of Things (IoT) & smart manufacturing
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a phrase that was used a lot more frequently about a decade ago, and prior to AI. That being said, it is still an important concept to grasp when applying it to manufacturing. At its core, IoT refers to machines, sensors, and systems connected through the cloud and sharing data across a network. In smart manufacturing, IoT enables real-time visibility into production, inventory, and equipment by feeding data into manufacturing and operational systems.
While Method does not replace manufacturing systems or IoT platforms, it connects the operational data those systems produce to the business workflows that live outside the factory. Using its two-way QuickBooks sync, Method ties real-time production or inventory status back to quotes, sales orders, customer updates, and invoicing. That means sales, operations, and accounting are all working from the same data without manual updates or spreadsheets.
Data analytics & cloud computing
Turning operational data into action.
✅ Identifies late jobs and bottlenecks in the manufacturing sector.
✅ Highlights which SKUs and customers create the most churn.
⚠️ Loses value if data is scattered or outdated.
Shared systems, accessible anywhere.
✅ Keeps teams aligned on a single source of truth.
✅ Speeds collaboration across suppliers and key stakeholders
⚠️ Requires discipline to avoid tool sprawl.
For most SMB manufacturers, the real advantage comes from combining these two: analytics that surface the right signals, and cloud platforms that keep everyone working from the same, current information. At Method, our CRM offers a flexible solution through our customization services for manufacturers using QuickBooks. We help connect operational and financial data to the workflows that live outside the shop floor, so quoting, order management, customer updates, and invoicing stay in sync. That way, teams spend less time reconciling systems and more time focused on building and delivering products.
Benefits of advanced manufacturing processes ✅
Advanced manufacturing is only “advanced” if it shows up in business outcomes. The benefits are measurable, and they tend to stack.
- Optimize production efficiency: Fewer stoppages, smoother flow, and better use of raw materials
- Improve product quality & consistency: Gain control via automation and streamline quality control signals.
- Enable sustainable manufacturing: Lower energy use per unit, reduced scrap, and more cost-effective
- Shorten time to market: Faster prototyping leads to better supply chain management
Industry use cases for advanced manufacturing 👩🏻⚕️
Advanced manufacturing techniques are used all over the place, but you will definitely see them in the following industries.
Aerospace
Aerospace is one of the most complex and fastest-growing industries on the planet, as well as one of the most controlled and regulated. Due to this, it requires the most advanced manufacturing processes available. Advanced materials like composites improve performance, but they also tighten tolerances and raise the stakes on quality control. For example, a supplier making titanium support brackets may track every part by serial number and run in-process inspections to catch drift before scrap piles up. Due to the sensitivity of the industry, many companies will first automate the documentation, before they start automating things on the factory floor.
Automotive
Automotives are becoming more and more state of the art, and thus, require state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing to truly compete with the Teslas and BYDs of the world. Advanced manufacturing in the automotive space is about keeping cycle times consistent and reducing variability in the manufacturing process. For example, a supplier producing stamped parts for an assembly line might use vision inspection to catch defects instantly so they don’t trigger downstream line stoppages.
Healthcare & medical devices
Healthcare and medical devices need to be ultra-precise. Furthermore, compliance is imperative in the healthcare industry, so documentation needs to be top-notch, which is why applying advanced manufacturing techniques is imperative in this space. For example, a medical device shop producing custom surgical guides may use 3D printing for prototyping and rely on controlled inspection steps before release. Beyond the manufacturing process itself, teams must also manage approvals, quality records, and customer documentation across multiple systems. Having a centralized digital approach to manage these records and workflows can help reduce manual effort and support consistent compliance as the business grows.
Implementation roadmap 📝
For SMB manufacturers, implementation works best as a staged operating plan—small wins that build capability.
Technology selection criteria
| Selection lens | What to evaluate | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Constraint focus | Where work actually queues or quality drifts | Targets ROI instead of shiny tech |
| Data readiness | Can you measure inputs/outputs consistently? | Analytics and AI depend on good signals |
| Integration | How it connects to your current production + systems | Prevents “islands” that create extra admin work |
| Scalability | Can the solution expand across SKUs and decision makers? | Protects the investment as complexity grows |
Workforce training & development
Automation and smart manufacturing increase the need for skilled operators. Workforce development should include training on setup, preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, quality control routines, and basic data interpretation. The goal is confidence on the floor.
Integrating smart systems with existing production
Advanced manufacturing technologies work when they fit into the real flow of production. Integration means more than connecting equipment; it means connecting decisions. If orders, approvals, specs, and customer expectations live in separate places, your team spends time chasing clarity instead of executing.
That’s also where a system layer like Method matters: it helps ensure the commercial side (quotes, changes, approvals, invoicing) stays aligned to production plans and updates coming from upstream systems.
Future trends in advanced manufacturing 🔮
Advanced manufacturing keeps moving, but the most relevant trends for SMBs are the ones that lower adoption friction and improve sustainability.
- Nanotechnology advances: Improved coatings, wear resistance, and material performance.
- Sustainability initiatives: More opportunity to reduce energy use, scrap, and emissions through better process control.
- Digital twins: Simulation models that help predict performance and optimize setups before running production.
- Autonomous systems: More self-correcting workflows as sensors, AI, and robotics become easier to deploy.
Unlock new opportunities with advanced manufacturing 🔓
Advanced manufacturing is reshaping the way industries approach production, blending cutting-edge technologies like robotics, AI, and 3D printing to drive efficiency, precision, and flexibility. As the sector continues to evolve, these innovations help businesses not only enhance product quality but also optimize their operations across the entire value chain. For small and medium-sized manufacturers, the key to staying competitive lies in adopting these technologies in a scalable, integrated way and ensuring that every part of the process, from production to customer interaction, is streamlined and data-driven.
Try Method for free today and see how we can help you optimize and future-proof your manufacturing operations.
Frequently asked questions
What defines an advanced manufacturing process?
An advanced process is defined by its utilization of new technology which improves upon what was traditionally done to achieve the best results for manufacturing a complex and high-quality product. This may be achieved through a variety of means, such as digital, automated, sensor-based controls; predictive quality control; real-time data collection; or digital integration into the workflow, which optimizes workflow and decreases the environmental impact.
How can automation improve efficiency in advanced manufacturing processes?
Automated processes eliminate the variations that occur from the actions of people performing manual tasks, reducing both the number of defective products and reducing the variability in cycle time. Automation and 3D printing are part of the digital manufacturing ecosystem.
What role does cloud computing play in advanced manufacturing?
Cloud computing provides organizations with the ability to share relevant information across different levels of the organization, creating a collaborative environment that fosters consistency. Cloud computing can assist in minimizing version control issues and increasing the speed at which decisions are made when changes occur.
