Factory Automation – Is It Necessary?
By Today, technology is rapidly changing our world – every aspect of life should be adaptable. Whether it be in the business field, education, medicine, or the field of industry or manufacturing. Having well-functioning and high technology equipment is very important in finishing every task and assisting in the production of astounding products or services. This is why automation in factories is becoming hugely popular.
What is Automation?
Automation is a process that is generally accepted the way of producing a certain product in a more precise and efficient way. In fact, this process has now made a drastic leap in the process of production in whole. This certain process has now resulted in the making of various refined products that have outstanding qualities with just a bit of variation in a general permissiveness.
Actually, the use of automation in the field of industry and manufacturing initiated via the usage of different technologies like pneumatic systems and the hydraulic systems. Both these technologies are used in different applications wherein their own mechanical advantages can be used in the utilisation of the production. This is what results in the higher output quality and efficiency. It is since then that people created a much more complex system, which is comprised of different technologies and pioneering procedures, which are being controlled by a programming language with operation drivers.
Is Automation in Factories Necessary?
These days, automating a factory has already become more than an obligation, it is now a matter of surviving, because of the forthcoming of industrial revolution, the future of manufacturing companies should be channelled in the assimilation of new technologies, as well as new intelligent automation. To be able to keep up with the competition and to be able to idyllically get ahead of it, companies should automate their own processes in the hopes of increasing their own productivity and competitiveness.
There are actually a number of benefits that are in association with factory automation. It is beneficial in significantly reducing the lead time and the costs. This is in addition to the reduction of human error and being much more efficient. In contrast with the popular belief of people, the automation, as well as the robotisation don’t necessary eliminate any jobs. It really just assists with the help of increasing production. Furthermore, in many cases, jobs or workers are often just relocated. And in fact, there are times that the jobs are even generated because of the company’s increase in competitiveness.
However, to fully enjoy all of these benefits, it is necessary that the automation will succeed. We all know that this particular thing does not happen overnight. This may explain the reason why there are still some factories who haven’t become automated yet.
Benefits of Factory Automation
Here are some of the benefits of automation to factories:
– Higher Volume of Production: If you invest automation in the equipment, it creates a more valuable resource for large volume production. This in turn may increase the profitability.
– Increase in Safety: Factory automation means having fewer employees who may perform tasks, which may be dangerous and prone to injuries that can create the work environment much safer.
– Fewer Employee Costs: By automating a factory, there are lesser employees that are needed in getting a particular job done. With having fewer employees means lesser costs.
– Increased repeatability and accuracy: Factory automation is a programmed process. Thus beneficial in performing a task continuously and repetitively with the same quality.
– Reduction in the production time: Factory automation absolutely speeds up the production time.
Drawbacks of Factory Automation
Here are some of the disadvantages of factory automation:
– Unpredictable costs: There may be some unpredictable costs, which may exceed the actual cost that is saved by the automation itself.
– Large initial investments: In factory automation, there may be a large investment in the initial phase of the process.
– More pollution to be generated: In factory automation, different machine types that use chemicals or gases to be able to operate. This means more pollution to be generated and more problems to the environment.
– Lesser versatility: Having your factory automated means lesser capability of performing a specific task and limiting the variety and flexibility of various tasks that an employee can do.
Clearly, the benefits of factory automation really outweigh the drawbacks of it. It is undeniable that this process is important in improving a certain product or service, as well as the image of the company.
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