Embracing Automation: Key Trends Transforming the Manufacturing Industry
Automation is crucial for the manufacturing industry as it enhances productivity and efficiency by minimizing human error and reducing downtime. It compensates for labor shortages and allows skilled workers to focus on more complex tasks. Additionally, automation improves data utilization, enabling informed decision-making and maintaining consistent product quality.
There have been some significant automation trends that have stood out recently: artificial intelligence, connectivity and data, cybersecurity, and edge to cloud computing.
Artificial intelligence
Leveraging artificial intelligence for predictive maintenance remains a leading application in the industry. Integrating sensor data with AI is becoming increasingly common among manufacturers.
AI applications have gained significant traction in the consumer-packaged goods sector. Its use for predicting product quality is so substantial that we often implement these capabilities even before assessing overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
We all utilize Copilot or ChatGPT or other AI programs for handling emails and coding tasks. While it is crucial for large language model (LLM) users to verify the AI’s output, the tool significantly speeds up our workflow despite this additional step.
AI is increasingly utilized in machine vision applications to effectively manage lighting variations in production areas.
Connectivity and data
While COVID demonstrated the manufacturing industries need for remote data access capabilities, one of the most challenging points that remains here is how to model data for storage and analysis in the cloud. We have got the connectivity now with communication methods such as MQTT, but data modeling remains an issue.
10 years ago, the big issue was on how to get data from systems most effectively. Now the issue is how to manage the data to make informed business decisions. this is where UNS (unified namespace) comes into play. A Unified Namespace (UNS) is a centralized framework for managing and organizing data across multiple systems in a consistent and cohesive manner. It allows different systems to share and access data through a common data model, using protocols like MQTT’s publish-subscribe model. This approach enhances interoperability, simplifies data management, and supports more efficient decision-making processes in complex industrial environments.
Cybersecurity
While cybersecurity has long been on manufacturers’ radar, many have not considered it a top operations priority until recently. The primary catalyst for this shift is the growing integration of operations technology (OT) with information technology (IT), which is crucial for businesses to remain competitive in today’s interconnected manufacturing environment.
Do not ignore cybersecurity. You do not want to be the reason ransomware gets in. Conduct an NIST audit at your facility as an important first step.
Manufacturers should prioritize engaging IT professionals, such as data scientists and cloud technology experts, to effectively scale OT applications while ensuring security as the industry increasingly shifts towards cloud environments.
Edge to Cloud Computing
In the architecture of a manufacturer’s hybrid edge/cloud environment, IT/OT convergence becomes prominent. Challenges such as data ownership and management location highlight the complexities presented by edge and cloud technologies.
Integrators frequently find themselves bridging the gap between IT and OT in edge/cloud projects. While some focus on implementing on-premises models, IT often leans towards exploring cloud services and containerization.
For edge and cloud projects, mistakes are often made by integrators not working well with IT from the start of the project. For effective implementation, integrators and OT professionals must discern the optimal situations for utilizing cloud services.
Whenever you are looking to implement edge technology, be sure that the edge devices you are considering are robust enough for use in the plant. It is crucial that these devices undergo testing within a manufacturing environment. Manufacturers should be sure to look for edge products from providers with industrial experience.
Adopting automation is vital for maintaining competitiveness in today’s fast-paced market. This is an exciting time in manufacturing with the evolving of these latest automation trends. The digital transformation is changing the way the world works, and for the better.
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