Page 7 - Automated Issue 11

GOING GLOBAL WITH AUTOMATION

Building the smart

factory of the future

Why the increased levels of automation are a good thing.

There is a current industry trend that sees the factories has now started to shift towards
phrase “Industry 4.0” bandied about as though programming and maintaining these machines.
we could all wake up tomorrow to the dawn of
a new robotic future. In truth, the idea of the Engineers in today's automated factory need to be as
smart factory and intelligent robots has been handy with a tablet as they are with a screwdriver and
I think this change worries people; maybe even more
around for a while now and we have nothing to so than if robots really were replacing the human
fear. element in manufacturing. If we relate this to Darwin's
theory of evolution - as technology evolves, so does
Technological advances and the internet of things the need to adapt within our work roles.
have resulted in interconnected devices forming a
convergence point between the physical and digital In addition to worries regarding evolution, many
world. The more information stored in a system, the companies are concerned about the risk for the
better positioned machines are to make smarter and stability of their already highly complex production
timelier decisions about things normally left to human and supply chain systems. They are reluctant to
judgement. interfere with a functioning system unless the benefits
are really clear.
Survival of the fittest
Despite these advancements, machines aren't taking New dawn
jobs away from humans. The most successful smart In the future, the sophisticated software implanted in
factories still employ the same number of workers as factory equipment will help machines self-regulate
roughly two decades ago. At the moment, the and make more autonomous decisions. To be really
implementation of smart automation robots, rather effective the system must recognise errors and know
than making humans redundant in the system, how to correct them without manual intervention.
moreover changes our role from worker to overseer
and improves overall productivity. To get to this stage, the German and US governments
have already allocated funds for strategic research
and the implementation of Industry 4.0 and smart
“For most automation machines. Germany has dedicated €200 million for
projects like BMBF’s it’s OWL or RES-COM. Similarly,
companies, the move will be a the USA has launched several initiatives like the Smart
gradual one, an evolution Manufacturing Leadership Coalition.
rather than a revolution” For most automation companies, the move will be a
gradual one, an evolution rather than a revolution.
This is why continuity with older systems will still be
Machines must obey algorithms and can't make essential for manufacturing in the years to come.
creative decisions when presented with
unprecedented situations. Thus the human role in

07
www.euautomation.com