Engineering news
In this new manufacturing world there is a need to boost productivity, meet consumers’ expectations for customisation, and continuously improve products while also minimising production costs. Now more than ever, manufacturers have to respond to increased connectivity and digitisation in the industry.
The role of robotics at various stages of the manufacturing process is also becoming increasingly apparent, promising to hypercharge manufacturing capabilities. Driven by changing demands from customers, manufacturers must be dynamic and flexible, responding quickly to find solutions that meet customers’ requirements.
We’ve seen the direct impact of robotics in manufacturers’ supply chains, which link product development, manufacturing and distribution networks into fully transparent and digitised systems. By digitising vital processes that make up the supply chain, manufacturers will not only future-proof their business but will benefit from a significant rise in productivity and efficiency.
The IIoT takeover
According to a recent report by Accenture, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) will add a staggering $14.2tn to the global economy by 2030. The company predicts that increased automation will result in machines that can order their own replacement parts or send out automated email alerts to technicians to report issues. The important thing is proactivity – automated machines flagging-up any issues ahead of time instead of reacting once the issue has already occurred. This will save not only time but ultimately money, leading to a massive reduction in cost per unit.
Not only will incorporating robotics change and improve the manufacturing processes themselves but manufacturers will capture previously unattainable performance data and analytics. Data collection is a key benefit of the Industry 4.0 transition. With new systems in place, an entire factory can report on and provide data around performance, inventory and efficiency. On top of this, manufacturers can receive real-time projections and identify any issues in their processes. Ultimately, the data collected by these devices can enhance and improve manufacturing processes, as well as increase visibility and availability of information among employees.
The hybrid workforce
Contrary to popular belief, the rise in robotics will not make factory workers obsolete. Instead, robotics can protect workers from repetitive and dangerous tasks in manufacturing so the human workforce can focus on prototyping, quality control, machine maintenance and programme management. It’s important for manufacturers to embrace these changes and not feel threatened by the impact this could have on the roles of their employees. Instead, we should view this as a collaboration, the bringing together of human expertise and technological efficiencies to create a hybrid workforce.
While robots will respond efficiently and effectively to prescribed events, the technology typically cannot handle unexpected situations. This element of unpredictability means there will always be a role for humans to work alongside robots and this transition also provides employers with an opportunity to train their workforce.
Ultimately, manufacturers wanting to compete on a global scale must align with the principles of Industry 4.0 through digitisation, automation and data collection. Manufacturers failing to align with these new Industry 4.0 principles risk being left behind. This seamless collaboration between robotics and factory workers will enable manufacturers to continue to evolve and adapt to meet the ever-changing demands of their customers.
Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.