Smart industrial automation and interconnected, intelligent manufacturing has been gaining a lot of popularity in recent times. With the growing impact of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), the concept of smart factories is being adopted everywhere. Just like the Internet of Things focuses on empowering the daily life by interconnecting devices, IIoT is the same concept applied on enterprises
What Are Smart Factories?
Smart factories are a concept that has been derived from IIoT, focusing on creating production environments that are fully automated through an intelligent network of factory automation systems. These automation systems enable the management within a manufacturing plant, including facilities, logistics chains, equipment, and machines, to function with the need for human intervention. In a smart factory, data exchange takes place between the production tools and machines as well as between all the elements involved in the production process. This data exchange empowers machine learning, allowing operations to be done more efficiently.
The Impact of the Smart Factory Concept
The smart factory concept involves the application of automation and intelligence to create a dynamic production environment that ensures improved effectiveness, reliability, and safety. There are several benefits that the introduction of smart processes into manufacturing can bring.
- Monitoring the Production Process: Interactions and data exchange between the production tools enhances the supervision and monitoring capabilities, also allowing for the introduction of real-time improvements and production cycle optimisation.
- Asset Visibility: Wireless sensor networks connect machines, tools, production surfaces, etc., allowing for easy traceability in real-time.
- Data Collection and Analytics: In a smart factory, generated data reaches the right place in the production process at the right time, without requiring human mediation.
- Safety: A controlled and predictable manufacturing environment translates into less threats for the workers who are involved in operating, monitoring, and maintaining the components of the smart factory.
- Production Flexibility: The expertise and insights offered by the data gathered through workflow monitoring can help production plants improve their adaptability and ensure production flexibility into the manufacturing process.
Mitsubishi Electric India offers high-end smart manufacturing – e-F@ctory along with an expansive range of processing and automation technologies that can deliver increased productivity, better quality, and higher efficiency to the manufacturing floor. The technologies and systems offered by Mitsubishi Electric India include computerised numerical controllers, industrial robots, power distribution and control products, controllers, and drive products. In addition to this, Mitsubishi Electric India also has extensive service networks that ensure easy access to comprehensive support for all customers.