Smart Factories: The Wave of the Future
Smart factories are the wave of the future.
Smart factories will be intelligent and automated factories, where machines are networked with each other, able to diagnose and solve problems by collecting and analyzing big data in real-time.
Production will become more seamless, from planning all the way to actual operations.
Supply chains will become more closely connected and efficient, delivering finished goods to warehouse for distribution through autonomous machines.
Most of all, robotic machinery handling collaborative roles in production will become smaller, more mobile, more easily programmable. They will learn and become artificially intelligent; they will become smarter, more autonomous, and able to self-optimize. Predictive maintenance will become the norm.
Smart factories are the logical, intended outcome of Industry 4.0. Smart factory automation will be driven by artificial intelligence, altering industrial production in ways we’ve never seen before, aided by new technologies that are now at our disposal.
What Is Industry 4.0?
The best way to answer this question is to look back at the history of manufacturing.
It all began with the First Industrial Revolution, which introduced water-powered machines into factories and farms. The Second Industrial Revolution saw the rise of heavy industries, industrial railway transport, and the use of electricity and steam-powered industrial machinery.
The Third Industrial Revolution improved on the limitations of analog and electrical machinery by introducing computer automation. By the late 1970s, most production line machinery was first mechanically operated, becoming more and more computerized in the decades that followed. But these machineries were prone to error, heavy in maintenance requirements – and could cause injury to workers.
With the advent of the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, and machine-to-machine communication (M2M), we’re now seeing yet another industrial revolution take place. We are witnessing a merge of computer intelligence with automation in ways we’ve never seen before.
Industry 4.0 will transform current production into smart factory production, altering business processes and reshaping the role of people in this realm, as smart machines take to sharing and complementing the roles of humans in production.
Industry 4.0 is the fulfillment of digitization as envisioned by industries across the board. We can sum up the definition of Industry 4.0 as the amalgamation of technology and business strategy. It is the key to unlocking any enterprise’s maximum manufacturing potential.
Its goals are straightforward:
Evolving Toward Industry 4.0 Technologies
In many respects, Industry 4.0 is an evolution of the previous industrial revolution. It optimizes the potential of computer automation by integrating the following:
These three are instrumental in the creation of a smart factory. They’re not the sum of it, but they pave the way for machinery and robotics to connect with people and processes. Combined, all of these make up a cyber-physical system where digital and mechanical components merge in an industrial environment. This is the force behind Industry 4.0, the transformation of theory into practical applications.
Robotics in Digitized Manufacturing
Robots factor into discussions on Industry 4.0 because they execute its vision. Enterprises that aim to have a smart factory 4.0 must integrate robotics into its operations. More than the standard, computer-coded machines, however, they will need collaborative robots or “cobots” to achieve this goal.
Cobots are compatible and highly ideal for Industry 4.0. As the name suggests, these robots promote collaboration, not just between machines but with humans as well.
Industrial robots meet performance standards in their respective industries. But to fully realize Industry 4.0 manufacturing, enterprises need to transition to smart factory technology, with machines that can work seamlessly alongside humans, helping them work faster and produce higher quality output.
Cobots: Moving Closer to Smart Factory Automation
Human-robot collaboration is the next level of industrial and manufacturing automation. Together, they represent the future of work: smart factory technology. They enhance human capabilities in the workplace, helping people work faster and better, which is one of the main goals of Industry 4.0.
The following qualities also make cobots ideal for this new era of automation:
With cobot integration, automation systems progress from purely mechanical to expert-guided. The human involvement merges business intelligence with technology, which again is the core principle of Industry 4.0. Cobots, therefore, are a stepping stone towards smart factory automation.
With Industry 4.0 and cobots elevating automation, we can all look forward to an exciting future. The best part is that both can benefit all industries of all sizes, not just industrial and manufacturing giants. In fact, cobots are already in action in foodservice, education, agriculture, and research and development.
The ball is now in the court of companies in every industry.Is adopting the new wave of technology going to be happening soon? A broad perspective on the applications of collaborative robots and the willingness to implement Industry 4.0 principles, perhaps, can go a long way.
Techman Robot Inc.’s expertise and knowledge is an asset to any enterprise. Our innovations can be your building blocks towards creating a smart factory and finding success in your niche. Let us help you in shaping the future of work in your company.
