Page 5 - Automated Issue 11

GOING GLOBAL WITH AUTOMATION

Visibility manufacturers begin to use more sophisticated
As a factory becomes more automated, manufacturers equipment and software that connects to the internet,
must find new methods to monitor and control cyber security must become a priority.
production. Increasing capabilities of cameras and
sensors allow manufacturers to view each stage of
production.
“The UK government intends
Manufacturers can use the increased connectivity to support the adoption of
brought about by the Internet of Things (IoT) to collect
and analyse collected sensor data. Eventually, smart technology in both
integrating more automation into the supply chain will industry and public
lead to more benefits for manufacturers, such as
enhanced visibility and control across entire supply infrastructure”
chains.

Consumers are also more interested in where their Smart technology in the UK
goods have come from. Radio frequency identification Europe is widely regarded as one of the leaders in
(RFID) tags also give manufacturers information on the automation in the manufacturing sector. However, in
origin, condition and locality of each component in a the UK there are only around 71 robots to every 10,000
product to improve quality control. workers, compared to almost 300 in Germany. To be
viewed as a pioneer in the sector, more manufacturers
Connectivity must integrate automation into their assembly lines.
Advancements in smart technologies, such as
autonomous systems, big data, and sensors, have British manufacturers must invest in smart technology,
improved machine-to-machine (M2M) interaction to such as automation, to remain competitive in the
help machines communicate and provide better global manufacturing market. While robotics may be
services. an expensive technology, automated assembly lines
can optimise processes from product inception to
Internet of Things (IoT) solutions increase completion.
interconnectivity across the supply chain and between
machines. By communicating, machines can carry out The UK government intends to support the adoption
and monitor several tasks, from tracking goods in of smart technology in both industry and public
warehouses to predicting machine output and infrastructure. In its 2017 digital strategy the
lifecycle. government announced its plan to spend money on
different initiatives in smart technology, including over
As more processes and machines are connected to £17 million for UK university funding into robotics and
the internet, data volume will grow. Conventional AI research.
computers can struggle with the size and complexity
of this information. Computers now need to process, While we don’t have futuristic homes or gadgets like
analyse and optimise the information they collect and Marty McFly, the UK is investing in smart technology
relay it to the manufacturer and supply chain. to benefit both the public sector and industry. With
developments in interconnectivity, machine learning
Before the fourth wave of industry, cyber security was and automation, the UK manufacturing sector is
an afterthought in manufacturing. However, as establishing itself as a leader in the industry.

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