Technological advancements and maturity have led to the emergence of several technology-adjacent industries. One of these is the healthcare technology industry, which now encompasses many sectors, including hearing care and hearing aids. The latter is a dynamic and growing sector that serves and helps millions of people with hearing impairments.
This sector has seen several significant technological advancements in recent years, and it is not surprising that it has embraced both the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence.
Smart Manufacturing
The industry has also embraced smart manufacturing, also known as intelligence manufacturing or Industry 4.0. This type of manufacturing embraces collaborative, fully integrated systems that respond to real-time data. These systems allow them to meet changing demands and align with the conditions on the manufacturing floor, supply networks, and customer needs.
Smart manufacturing depends on advanced robotics and automation, cloud computing, big data analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and Internet of Things integrations.
Smart manufacturing aims to optimise production and manufacturing transactions. It does this by helping manufacturers utilise advanced manufacturing technologies and complex information effectively.
Smart manufacturing also plays a significant role in helping improve productivity, efficiency, and flexibility in different manufacturing processes, including for hearing aids.
The Role of IoT in Hearing Aid Manufacturing
In industrial applications, manufacturers use the Internet of Things differently. One of the most common is sensors that aid different manufacturing processes.
Manufacturers are deploying IoT sensors throughout the manufacturing floor and processes in the hearing aid industry. These sensors can gather crucial data on various parameters, including humidity, temperature, and vibration levels.
Manufacturers can then use this data to monitor their production lines, identify potential issues as early as possible, and make any necessary adjustments not to affect productivity and output. These use cases mirror those of IoT devices in other industries, but using the right devices and sensors in the right way is crucial when it comes to people’s health.
Manufacturers must take extra precautions when creating products that go in or on patients’ bodies, and hearing aids fall squarely in that category.
Collecting Data on and Carrying Out Predictive Maintenance
Machines break down all the time. The key for manufacturers is ensuring these events do not lead to reduced output and productivity. To ensure this, they can use historical data they have collected and analyse it to glean any patterns they can from it. This is an area where big data analytics and machine learning can help.
Once the analysis is complete, the manufacturers can use artificial intelligence algorithms to predict equipment failures before they happen. This proactive approach prevents downtime by helping manufacturers schedule maintenance and repairs early. It also reduces costs associated with catastrophic repairs and loss of sales due to reduced output volumes.
AI Integration in Hearing Aid Manufacturing
Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the Internet of Things work well together, so they are frequently used together in many manufacturing industries. One common application of artificial intelligence is in the production of personalised hearing aids by audiologists and hearing care experts.
Hearing loss is a complex subject, but we can simplify it as everyone experiences it differently and at different levels. This means that a solution that works for one person might not work for the next. This is why customisation and personalisation are so important when picking and fitting hearing aids.
AI algorithms can collect the data collected using other methods about specific customers or patients. This data can be the person’s hearing profile which includes how loud they can hear, which frequencies they can still perceive, which type of hearing loss they have, and if they need hearing aids for one or both ears.
The person’s lifestyle is also important when choosing hearing aids, and audiologists can include this data to help with personalising them. This level of personalisation can help immensely with customer satisfaction and lead to better hearing aid use outcomes.
AI can also give hearing aid manufacturers a competitive advantage. People with hearing loss are looking for the best solutions, hearing aids, and accessories that best suit their needs and help with their hearing loss as much as possible. Any company that can do all these better than its competition stands to gain massively from users preferring its products.
Using Artificial Intelligence and IoT for Better Manufacturing Outcomes
Combining IoT and AI can lead to better manufacturing outcomes that benefit manufacturers and customers alike. Manufacturers can use IoT to collect data that they use to implement various quality control measures. By doing this and implementing the quality control measures suggested and powered by AI, manufacturers can ensure that products meet the highest standards. This can be yet another way of giving themselves a significant competitive advantage.
Future Trends, Challenges, and Considerations
Even though the combination of the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence is already changing the hearing aid industry by powering smart manufacturing, there are trends, challenges, and considerations manufacturers must keep in mind.
The first, and perhaps the most important, is data security and privacy. Collecting and analysing large amounts of data, especially when some of it includes customer information, raises data security and privacy concerns. For this reason, manufacturers must implement robust measures to protect sensitive information.
The second issue is concerns about initial investments. Implementing IoT and artificial intelligence technologies can require a substantial investment, even for manufacturers who have already set up their manufacturing plants. The upside is that the long-term benefits concerning cost savings, improved efficiency., and much higher productivity and output can justify these initial investments.
Lastly, manufacturers must also consider the regulatory issues that can arise with integrating smart technologies into medical devices. We have already seen the EU put legislation in place to govern the manufacture of different medical devices. Even if this has not happened with smart devices like hearing aids, it might still happen in the future.
The hearing aid industry is already being transformed by the integration of AI and IoT. These technologies are enabling manufacturers to streamline operations, enhance product quality, and provide more customisation for users. Companies at the forefront of leveraging AI and IoT are gaining a competitive edge. They are better positioned to meet the changing needs of customers by delivering improved experiences and outcomes through their innovative products.
