Skip to content

Find and Fulfill the Degree of Manufacturing Automation You Need

Automation in Manufacturing

Technological innovation has enabled modern factories to produce goods at scale more efficiently. Various factors, such as sensors and signals, manipulation and control, supervisory control, planning and operations, business planning, logistics, and enterprise-level operations, have contributed to this growth. And as such, manufacturing automation has become an integral part of the industrial production process. In fact, McKinsey predicts that automation can increase global productivity growth by 0.8-1.4% annually.

That being said, manufacturers need to be aware of the different levels of automation available and how each level can affect production output. To help you along, we’ve put together a guide on the different levels of automation in manufacturing and how to find and fulfill the degree of automation that works best for your business.

V2A033 TM Robot – Assembly at a Lighting Production Line

Five Aspects of Automation in Manufacturing Processes

1. Sensors and Signals

These are the building blocks of manufacturing automation. Sensors and signals are used to collect data from the environment, monitor machinery, detect any abnormalities in performance, and control the process of production. With real-time parameters such as temperature, pressure, and vibration all available at their fingertips, manufacturers are able to detect problems and address them before they become serious issues. 

This data not only enables running smoother processes but it can also help boost overall product quality. Manufacturing automation systems help reduce fatigue among workers while introducing complex operations that have far superior results than those done manually. 

2. Manipulation and Control

With automated manipulation and control, manufacturers are better able to fine-tune movements and functions for precision and accuracy. This feature is incredibly beneficial, as it greatly increases the level of accuracy and minimizes the risk of any mistakes. Subsequently, it can exponentially improve workflow processes and eliminate human error, resulting in excellent levels of precision that help facilitate efficiency and cost savings. 

Automation in the manufacturing process also improves product quality due to enhanced repeatability; tasks requiring credible minimal transitions or frequent scaling become much easier for machinery rather than humans to undertake.

3. Supervisory Control

This goes beyond just looking at machines and their functioning, but also examining the quality of products being manufactured. By employing supervisory control in automated processes, manufacturers can effectively identify and address any challenges at the time they emerge with appropriate solutions. As a result, this could lead to improved productivity and quality assurance for your product.

4. Planning and Operations

The manufacturing automation aspect can help with production scheduling, ensuring inventory is managed at an accurate level, and managing the supply chain. Automation helps reduce operational costs as well as improve output, reduce handoffs between manufacturing stages, and streamline procedures like quality control. 

5. Business Planning, Logistics, and Enterprise-level Operations

Automation is key to maximizing the efficiency of manufacturing processes. It helps provide manufacturers with real-time data on production, supply chain, and financial performance, which can, in turn, be used to improve business planning and decision-making. 

In addition, automation solutions also streamline logistics operations at the enterprise level, thereby helping to optimize resources while minimizing costs. This way, manufacturers are able to ensure their supply chain and production processes are operating in a cost-effective, timely, and efficient manner.

Exploring Levels of Automation in Manufacturing

Indubitably, technological innovation has revolutionized the manufacturing industry, resulting in increased efficiency and better productivity for manufacturers. One important aspect of innovation is automation in the manufacturing processes whereby machines can do what used to require manual labor.

Manufacturing automation refers to incorporating technology and automation systems to control and execute the manufacturing process with minimal human intervention. The benefits of having a manufacturing automation system are reduced costs, improved product quality, faster production cycles, improved safety, and overall greater efficiency in production. 

Now, there are six levels of manufacturing automation that represent the degree to which a manufacturing process is automated. Below are the levels of automation in manufacturing:

The first level is Level 0 which represents a manufacturing process that is not automated but instead relies on manual control and analog technology. 

Level 1 is the second level of manufacturing automation and represents a manufacturing process that involves operator assistance. At this level, an automation system is in place, but it still requires human intervention for its operation. The system is digital and manual, and it is used to monitor manufacturing processes on-site.

Level 2 represents partial automation where an automation system is in place to monitor and control specific functions of the manufacturing process. The system is still on-site and is used to monitor the production process, but only specific functions are automated.

Level 3 is the conditional level of manufacturing automation, where a remote monitoring system is in place to monitor the production process. This system is proactive and cross-functional. It uses automation technologies to identify potential issues within the manufacturing process, thereby allowing for early intervention before a problem arises.

Level 4 represents high automation whereby an automation system is used for emergency intervention and is predictive. This means the system is used to anticipate and respond to potential issues proactively. Emergency intervention is then carried out automatically to prevent issues from occurring.

The highest level of manufacturing automation is Level 5 which represents full automation. At this level, the manufacturing automation system is real-time, meaning, that it operates continuously, incorporating data analysis and AI to optimize the manufacturing process and is self-optimizing.

The levels of manufacturing automation systems represent the degree to which a manufacturing process is automated, and each level has its own benefits and features. As technology continues to develop, it is likely that manufacturing automation will become increasingly sophisticated, leading to even more efficient and productive manufacturing processes.

Realizing the vision of industry 4.0

Key Benefits of Automation in the Manufacturing Sector

The adoption of lean inventory techniques through automation allows for better visibility and control over inventory levels, enabling manufacturers to efficiently manage supply chain operations. This results in a reduction in production waste and ultimately contributes to cost savings.

Automation can provide several benefits to the manufacturing sector, including but not limited to:

  • Adopting lean inventory techniques
  • Reducing costs and production waste
  • Reducing downtime
  • Refining production output
  • Improving response time and business fulfillment rate
  • Providing predictable maintenance
  • Improving decision-making

Technological evolvements have revolutionized manufacturing processes by enabling efficient production on a larger scale than ever before. The use of sensors and signals has greatly contributed to this development, allowing factories to automate a range of functions. 

Manipulation and control methods that incorporate these sensors have improved production performance exponentially. Supervisory control systems have offered a higher level of monitoring and management over manufacturing operations, ensuring the whole process stays on track. While planning and operations have been further streamlined through the integration of automation and data visualization tools, offering a clear overview of progress and identifying areas for improvement. 

Lastly, business planning, logistics, and enterprise-level operations have been honed via the implementation of automation technologies thus enabling companies to scale with ease, reduce wastage and costs, and increase profitability. 

Final Thoughts

Overall, these five key aspects of manufacturing automation have significantly impacted the manufacturing industry by reducing costs, increasing productivity, enhancing product quality, and improving safety. As technology continues to evolve, we can expect the pace of innovation in the field of manufacturing automation to accelerate, encouraging further growth and development in this field.

Techman Robot’s AI cobots are equipped with advanced Al and machine learning capabilities that enable the cobots to increase their efficiency over time. These cobots are known for their built-in smart vision system, providing ease of use and versatility, ideal for a wide range of applications, including material handling, AOI inspection, and palletizing.