You’re struggling to keep up with your manufacturing operations. Can automation help you streamline them?

When one things automation you think about robotic cells and pallet pools. In reality automation starts in your machines. In CNC you want the machine to have in machine deburring, ability to clean itself, and basic counting & tool macros. The goal is peak efficiency. This will make the addition of robotics and other forms of automation clean and easy to adapt to. No matter the type of machine if you start small and have a game plan anyone can have automation in manufacturing.

Rather than automating the manufacture of an existing product, one should redesign the product to facilitate automation. In that way you will have a chance at succeeding in your goals.

In my view, automation streamlines manufacturing by boosting efficiency, reducing errors, and cutting costs. It ensures consistent product quality, facilitates 24/7 operations, and enables real-time data analysis for informed decision-making. With increased flexibility, safety improvements, and quick changeovers, automation enhances competitiveness by delivering products faster, with higher quality, and at lower costs. Thoughtful planning is crucial to align automation with specific manufacturing needs, considering factors like initial investment, training, and maintenance for long-term benefits.

We define automation as the creation and application of technology to monitor and control the production and delivery of products and services. Automation technology comprises all processes and work equipment that enable plants and systems to run automatically. These include machines, apparatus, equipment and other devices. Human intervention is minimal.Automation is present in virtually all verticals and niches, although it's more prevalent in manufacturing, utilities, transportation, and security. For example, most manufacturing plants make use of some automated process in the form of robotic assembly lines. Automation describe the increased use of automatic devices and controls in mechanized production lines.

Before you can introduce automation, you should review your current processes as a starting point. Some production processes lend themselves to automation better than others. The type of automation depends on various factors, For example, repetitive, labour-intensive tasks are ideal for replacing with robotic solutions.. CIM automation is when the manufacturing process is entirely run by automated systems. This will likely include various types of automation The best example of flexible automation is a robot arm that can be programmed to perform different tasks such as insert screws, drill holes, sand, weld, insert rivet. Manufacturing uses AI in many applications, such as robotics, computer vision, and natural language processing.

The best example of flexible automation is a robot arm that can be programmed to perform different tasks such as insert screws, drill holes, sand, weld, insert rivets and spray paint. Manufacturers use industrial robots for: Arc Welding.Examples of industrial automation are Programmable automation, Fixed automation, Flexible Automation, Integrated Automation, Robotics, Artificial intelligence, CNC machining, Predictive maintenance, The industrial Internet of Things, Addictive manufacturing, Supply chain technology, Advanced Supply Assembly, Automated assembly machines, Collaborative robot. Examples of fixed automation include machining transfer lines found in the automotive industry, automatic assembly machines, and certain chemical process

Before you start on the automation journey, it would be prudent to evaluate the process and conduct value stream mapping to understand choke points. This will help prioritize the efforts so that you get the "biggest bang for the buck" first.