In the evolving world of technology, automation has become essential for factories. It helps boost productivity, efficiency, quality, and security. There's lots of competition in business; therefore, factory automation helps a factory increase productivity, return on investment and perform better. To start here is all you need to know.
What is Factory Automation?
It refers to the inclusion of automation from end-to-end manufacturing procedures. In the manufacturing sector, factory automation supports technologies such as:
- Hydraulic systems
- Robot arms
- Pneumatic systems.
It helps create a more complex system for better efficiency productivity and reduce costs. In addition, it reduces the risks that humans can encounter when operating the equipment. Therefore, what are the types of factory automation available?
Types of Factory Automation
There are several types, meaning different companies approach automation in different ways. Here are some of them:
- Partially Manual Processes
This type combines automation and human expertise, and oversight. In this factory type, simple tasks are automated, but an expert makes the final decision. The processes are most common in quality assurance and compliance management.
- Automated Assembly/Single Machines or Special Purpose Machine
As the name suggests, the machine is made to perform one particular operation, repetitive action. Some of these tasks include Welding, vision inspecting, packing, cutting, or other single operations.
- Automated Production Lines
It's a combination of several workstations, each performing a particular operation. These workstations are connected by a transfer and electrical control system. It means the product moves from machine to machine in a defined pattern and is processed differently by each till its completion.
You don't need people to operate as the system is fully automated. It means the role of workers in such a factory will be supervision, monitoring, making enhancements, and not equipment operation.
- End to End Automation Factories
These factories are often called dark manufacturing environments as they don't need lights at night to complete an operation. They can run all day throughout the year as human presence is unnecessary. People are only needed to oversee and improve the processes or check the quality of the product.
What are the Benefits of Factory Automation?
- Reduce waste- Using automation enables you to estimate the material you need. This means there will be no material wastage.
- Improves productivity-When, you smoothen and automate processes, you fine-tune production lines. It speeds up the processes making them efficient and better.
- Safer working conditions- In factories, accidents are inevitable. However, having equipment that can sense danger and shut immediately helps lower and control the risks.
- Heightened consistency- In comparison to people, machines don't need breaks. This means the results are constant, predictable, and consistent.
- Better quality- With automation, not only do you avoid human error but modify automated processes to boost results. You can produce high-quality products which contribute to customer satisfaction.
In the modern world, digitization has become vital in every sector. Therefore, automation is key to bettering the processes in the factory sector. If you have not done it, it's time you embrace it for efficiency and increased return on your investment.
