
In the last few decades, quality and consistency have become quite vital for the health of industries in order to stay in the race. And along with maintaining these 2 factors, the pricing has to be competitive. To balance this equation, industries constantly try to innovate their manufacturing techniques and processes in parallel with the use of automated devices.
One of the most outstanding and influential steps for facing this challenge is industrial automation.
Industrial automation assists in augmenting the product quality, producing rate and reliability while reducing the production and design cost by embracing new, innovative and integrated technologies and services.
What is industrial automation?
Industrial Automation simply means making use of the control systems in places such as computers, robots, and information technology tools, and control strategies such as cascade controls, PLC’s sensors, etc. for managing various machinery in the industry. Of course, this comes at a cost of replacing human beings due to the use of logical programming commands and powerful machinery. Industrial automation is considered as the second step ahead of mechanization in industrialization.
Increase Quality and Flexibility in Your Manufacturing Process
When it all began, the purpose of automation was to increase productivity and to reduce the cost related to human operators like compensation and benefits. However gradually this focus has shifted to increasing quality and flexibility in the manufacturing process.
Advantages of Industrial Automation
• Lower operating cost
Due to the fact that Industrial automation eliminates or reduces human involvement or participation, it eliminates the human-related factors such as healthcare costs, paid leaves and other holidays. Although the initial machinery and set up is extremely costly, in the long run, it saves cost on monthly wages of the workers which leads to considerable cost savings for the company. Compared to this cost-effectiveness, the maintenance cost required for the machinery is quite less.
• High productivity
Industrial automation accomplishes the objective of a company of being functional 24/7, which is advantageous from a productivity point of view.
• High Quality
Automation reduces the margin of error associated with human beings. Unlike human beings, robots do not suffer from humanly challenges like fatigue. Due to which, robots are able to generate products with standardized quality manufactured at different times.
• High flexibility
Humans need training intervention for performing any new task; however, robots can be programmed to perform any new task. This makes the process of manufacturing more flexible.
• High safety
High level of safety can be achieved for employees by positioning robots to handle hazardous conditions.
Disadvantages of Industrial Automation
• High Initial Cost
The only major investment associated with automation is the initial cost of purchasing and setting up the production line. And the only sizeable costs involved in training employees to work on the new sophisticated equipment.
Then there are different types of Industrial Automation systems like fixed or hard automation, Programmable Automation, flexible or soft automation.
Due to the huge number of advantages involved with the use of Industrial automation has found its way into numerous industries.