Automated production aiding profitability

June 18, 2019 11:43 am

Ajey Phatak, Head Marketing, Beckhoff Automation Pvt Ltd, dicusses on Robotics and its trends.

Make in India vs industrial automation sector
Industrial automation not only applies to manufacturing or production, but also quality control, research, end-of-line testing, primary and secondary packaging, logistics, warehousing etc. Similarly, it also applies to multiple industry verticals. No doubt, Make in India has been the talk of the town within the country and global corporates.

However, the new investments in manufacturing facilities by global companies are for hi-tech products that require sophisticated plant and machinery with automation, and the local machinery industry or industrial automation industry has not benefited because of less localisation possibility.

360-degree approach
To make an impact, the investing corporates must consider 100 per cent locally designed or produced machines, assembly lines, and automation systems for their manufacturing plants and machinery. Their vendors must also set up JVs with local machinery manufacturers.

Local industrial automation solution providers/service providers must be encouraged to build local technical and implementation capabilities at par with global vendors. This will also generate business opportunities to bring in higher plant efficiency using automation in brownfield projects.

Also, existing industrial plants, especially run by MSMEs, must also be incentivised for implementing high technology in manufacturing automation and testing automation within their plants. Thus, a 360-degree approach can really transform the technology transfer and implementation expertise to India. This will attract more investments due to availability of technology and human resources.

Encourage more Industry 4.0 concepts
Industry 4.0 concepts must be encouraged and promoted by new investors in India for their manufacturing plants. Obviously, this will generate more business opportunities for local automation solution providers and ITES companies. This will be certainly beneficial for local automation companies; however, this solely cannot be enough to attract investors to India.

Robotics and its importance
The automated production processes help manufacturer’s profitability and also meet market expectations. Robotics improve the overall efficiency of a manufacturing process by creating efficient means of completing production tasks.

The production of industrial robots and automation systems has grown tremendously over the past few decades.Robots are valued in the manufacturing industry for a number of attributes: reliability, predictability, precision, repeatability, and imperviousness to hazardous environments.

Yes, robots come with certain limitations, too, when we compare them with humans. Unlike humans, robots lack the ability to respond to unexpected circumstances and improve performance based on previous experience.

Robotic process automation vs traditional automation
The automotive industry, for instance, is the leading consumer of industrial automation systems that enable them to produce high-quality cars at affordable rates. Being an inseparable part of today’s manufacturing industry, robots have taken over many of the sensitive production tasks that demand ultimate precision and repeatability. Hence, implementing robotic process automation may affect traditional automation, but only in some selected cases.

Test and measurement automation
Test and measurement automation has become the important factor of modern manufacturing. In-process testing requires high speed testing, and hence, automation becomes more relevant. Also, AI, machine learning, andIIoT require huge historical data for analytics, and hence, automation becomes important in test and measurement domain for accurate and precise testing, and huge in process data logging.

Use of vision-based inspections are also used in the final stages of production. Hence, automated vision inspection and testing system play significant role in manufacturing sector.

Top priority for automation
Automation should be considered as a top priority for overcoming the immediate existing challenges faced by manufacturer. This also should be in sync with overall business plan and customer retention.

Automation systems need to be audited periodically for comparing results. To do this, the manufacturer must consider technology and its applicability in future; say next five years. Identifying right automation partner who offers right automaton technology products. Open automation systems with multiple fieldbus compliance will not only bring in innovation in solutions,but also improve self-reliance.

A 360-degree approach can really transform the technology transfer and implementation expertise to India
Ajey Phatak, Head Marketing, Beckhoff Automation Pvt Ltd