IoT and Automation in Manufacturing

“IoT and Automation in Manufacturing” What is IoT? IoT stands for “Internet of Things” and it is basically the term we use for the connection of the billions of physical devices across the globe, to the internet. The purpose of this connection is to collect and share data in an effective and time-saving manner. IoT encompasses the technique of adding sensors and small computer chips to various devices to make them a part of the vast wireless network that has become an inevitable part of our world. These IoT devices can be as ordinary as household appliances or as specific as modernized industrial machinery. The digitally connected objects gain the ability to communicate, process, and share data without being dependent on human interventions. IoT is intelligently digitalizing the world with the reduction of time and human energy consumption, making it more active and efficient. It has enabled us to incorporate the digital world into the physical one, making it a single unit that is definitely smarter and faster. Currently, we have more than 7 billion IoT devices around the world and this number is expected to increase to a great extent in the future. IoT has become one of the most prominent technological advancements of the 21st Century. What is Automation? The term “automation” itself is quite explanatory as we instantly get the word “automatic” in our mind, as soon as we hear automation. It is basically the practice/technique of converting a manually operated system to an automatically operated one. It involves the automation of different apparatus and processes to make them efficient and less time-taking. It is also used to minimize the use of human force in manufacturing and replace it with automated systems. Automation technique uses technological measures to monitor, regulate and assess the manufacturing and delivery of various products. This technique has widespread applications in different sectors such as transportation, manufacturing, and the defense sector as well. Automation uses a variety of technological tools/assets such as advanced software systems, robotics, to monitor and regulate every single step of the industrial procedures ranging from the manufacturing of goods, till the marketing and consumption of these goods. Automation plays a vital role in our lives as it ensures the continuous assessment of our necessary systems, making them more reliable, safe, efficient, and prone to improvements. IoT in Manufacturing: We are living in the era of modernization and it is the need of the time to use technology for the betterment of our lives. As we know that the economy of the world depends majorly on the industries and manufacturing of products, so it is quite obvious that the focus on technological advancements in the industrial procedures is what we require. In this regard, IoT has emerged as a breakthrough with high applicability in the manufacturing sector. For a considerable period of time, IoT is being used in the industries to achieve unmatched manufacturing efficiency, high productivity and performance. Leading manufacturers across the globe, who have made investments in IoT, have been discussing and acknowledging its benefits to the productivity. IoT comes as a one-time investment to save time, as well as financial assets on a long-term basis, that too with a high increase in the economic benefits. There are basically 2 prominent applications of IoT in the manufacturing industry;

1-Asset Monitoring: Through the connection of manufacturing machinery to the internet system, monitoring of industrial assets has become easier. The safety, reliability, and performance of manufacturing equipment can be efficiently monitored, regulated, and communicated to the concerned people, through the intervention of IoT. It provides the opportunity to manufacturers to assess, manage, and regulate their assets keeping in view the improvement of the manufacturing procedures. It also helps them make effective decisions before even encountering a problem. Asset tracking has vast applications in the quality control, delivery and overall statistics of the manufacturing process.

2-Operational Efficiency: With the wireless connections of machinery with each other, it has become easier for the manufacturers to make highly communicative and responsive networks of systems that can communicate and operate with the least intervention of human force. This provides a better opportunity to them to identify and tackle with any kind of upcoming problem quickly and intelligently. It also helps them regulate and enhance their operational intelligence with respect to their working dynamics. Apart from this, IoT has also enabled manufacturers to connect together through operational data centers, where they get to see the insights and manage their working units according to the current needs. Automation in Manufacturing: We’re living in the era where industrialization has taken over the world’s economy, and it has become inevitable to achieve economic growth and success without the use of technology. In the manufacturing sector, automation has become one of the most prominent technological interventions, that are being used to get high productivity and efficiency, as well as time, human force and cost reduction. Industrial automation involves the use of electromechanical systems that are already programmed to carry out different manufacturing processes. There are three types of manufacturing automation, listed below;

• Fixed Automation: It is also known as “Hard automation”. It is basically specified in nature and the changes in programming are fixed to individual equipment. In this type of automation, the order of processing/manufacturing operations is controlled by the configuration of the specific equipment, in a fixed manner. Fixed automation is usually used in manufacturing areas where there are needs of high production and have a fixed equipment assigned to a specific part to be manufactured. • Flexible Automation: It is a more automated system which has the ability to accommodate changes in the programming automatically. Flexible automated systems are typically connected to those networks that allow frequent change of programming and increase efficiency through manual or automated monitoring. It gives a wide space to the programmers to monitor and regulate the programs from anywhere in the world. • Programmable Automation: It is basically associated with huge production units that manufacture goods in quantities ranging from many dozens to many units at once. It provides the ability to the manufacturing units to get a high production of goods/parts. Programmable automation is basically linked with batch production. A drawback in this type is the considerably long and costly downtime required to accommodate programming changes. The description of the types of automation gives us a clear picture of its widespread applications in the manufacturing sector. It aids in the predictable and durable maintenance of the manufacturing equipment, allowing the owners to make important decisions that can benefit them to a great extent. Automation also ensures the workflow without any technical or financial interruptions/hurdles, by regulating the programs quickly and efficiently. Automated monitoring also helps manufacturers keep a track of the performance of equipment and productivity rates. Manufacturing automation has a bright future as it is advancing day by day, with the use of more advanced technologies, such as robotics and IoT. We can create a better future for ourselves and our world, if we use technology in the right way!