Incorporating cutting-edge innovations to meet customer demand

June 12, 2021 4:46 pm

New-age technologies will provide greater control over the business environment and will contribute positively to design-to-delivery operations in markets that require customisation.

Indian industries have embraced Industry  4.0 and its technologies to carve a   bright future of   Indian industries.  With this level of acceptance, how ready are we to accept Industry 5.0?
Industry 4.0 helped manufacturing industry in   developing   methods   for   integrating IT   technologies    into    their    production processes with an aim to improve efficiency and  productivity.  Concepts  like  big  data, artificial  intelligence,  robotics,  connected systems   has   paved   way   for   industry   to realise   potential   of   data   generated   by their   own   machines   and   reap   benefit from   the   flexibility   of   operations  and controlling  processes  in  real-time  as  per the  requirement.  It  is  evident  now  that companies with higher level of automation adoption   have   outgrown   the   ones   still standing  at  the  shore  and  figuring  out  a way to start or scale-up.

While the discussions on Industry 4.0 are on, we have an evolved version  –  Industry  5.0 knocking at the door.  This  new  concept  is more focused towards giving human touch to machine automation – customisation of product and service offerings with cobots. The  first  step  to  move  towards  Industry 5.0  will  be  ready  availability  of  seamlessly connected   systems   in   current   processes. It’s  nearly  impossible  to  think  of  Industry 5.0  adoption  without  creation  of  requisite automation infrastructure.

Talking  about  the  readiness  of  industry,  as true  for  all  technological  evolutions,  there will  be  skepticals,  early  adopters  and  late bloomers for Industry 5.0 too.

With    the    advent    of    3D    Printing,    AI, robotics,  connected  data  enterprise,  what are  the  major  areas  where  the  industry witnessed   transformations   and   business prospects?
As   per   the   adoption   trend,   automobile industry  has  been  one  of  the  frontrunners in adopting new production and operation technologies.   The industry has witnesses flexible product designing, quality realisation and manufacturing operations resulting in faster time-to-market. The connected data enterprise contributed to the simplification of complex information network and data availability.  Artificial intelligence has also enabled maximum plant up-time through predictive analytics and maintenance.  All the new-age technologies working together will  provide  greater  control  over  business environment    and    contribute    positively towards   design-to-delivery   operation   for markets demanding customisation.

How is AI, automation, and robotics bridging the technology gap in the manufacturing, electronics and automotive industries?
Manufacturing,    electronics,    automotive and other industries are utilizing cognitive technologies to  generate  process  insights that   can   contribute   towards   improved efficiency,   reduced   costs,   increased   top- line,  and  enhanced  customer  experience. For   example,   requirement   of   integrated data   processing   in   modern   automotive can   be   realised   by   deploying   artificial intelligence   technologies.   Also,   context- aligned    robotics    can    reduce    the    gap between        human        intelligence-based response and labor intensity thus increasing production    throughput    with    maximum plant availability.

What are the challenges in the automotive sector in adopting factory automation, digitization and robotics for efficient processes?
One of the observed challenges is integration of  disparate  technologies  to  deploy  just- right  automation.  With  the  overwhelming infusion   of   new-age   technologies   added to    ever    more    dynamic    business    and operational    environment    and    customer demands,    it    is    becoming    increasingly difficult    for    organizations    to    evaluate the  right  mix  of  automation  tools.  These decisions are capital intensive,  time and effort  consuming,  specialised  and  require overhaul  of  existing  processes.  Challenges of  keeping  the  power  on  while  migrating legacy   system   to   futuristic   technologies PROCESS and  adapting  to  new  systems  are  creating  a  resistance  in adoption.

Collaboration of humans and machines   (robots and cobots)  are  expected  to play  a  key role  in  carving the future of manufacturing.  How  do you see  India’s future with Industry 5.0?
Industry 5.0 will hopefully herald a new paradigm in industrial operations where production plant will not only be a place for automated machines but also for creative humans. The future of manufacturing is personalized production. In India where most chunk of industry is informal and unorganized; Industry  5.0  will  enable these  small-scale businesses  to combine  small  machines  and  robots  with  IIOT  to produce handmade   &   customized product   while   ensuring   high standards of precision and productivity.

On the other hand, Industry 5.0 will have it’s impact beyond direct  manufacturing.  For  example,  we  have  seen  greatest ever  personalization  projects  during  the  current  pandemic. Digital    global    collaboration    tools    offering    immersive experiences, powered by augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). These tools will gain enhanced adoption rate in manufacturing as well in very near future accelerating the industry towards Industry 5.0.

How is  WAGO  contributing to  realigning  the  position of Indian Manufacturing in the global market?
WAGO   provides   all   the   data   collection,   software   tools and  interfaces  needed  for  processes  from  electrical  and mechanical planning to production of configured products. Whether it is control cabinet engineering, building planning or circuit board design, WAGO offers tailor-made solutions for unique requirements to expedite production processes.WAGO offers modular automation solutions that has rapidly gained  dominance.  With  automation  systems  consisting  of several standalone modules, operations become much more flexible and faster than they were with conventional systems designed from individual parts.

Just-right  automation  and  interface  electronic  solutions enable  organizations  to  speed-up  their  adoption  process and  faster  realization  of  deployed  technology  resulting  in quicker response to market requirements globally.