What is Industrial Automation
Industrial automation refers to a broad spectrum of technologies that reduce human intervention in industrial procedures.
Reducing human intervention significantly reduces the time needed for any task and consequently increases productivity and profitability.
Reducing human intervention also considerably increases safety, as well as improving the quality of work done.
Industrial automation has been of great benefit in several instances. Consider the use of machines in manufacturing; such automation has made it possible for large manufacturers to mass-produce goods like cars, airplanes, trucks, etc.
Without the use of industrial automation, it would be nearly impossible for companies like these to mass produce these types of products, nor would it be financially feasible.
How Industrial automation Helps to Increase Productivity?
The increased productivity brought about by industrial automation has resulted in improved profits for manufacturers.
Increased profit levels enable manufacturers to invest in more manufacturing spaces or to create new industrial spaces. Furthermore, increased investment in manufacturing means an increase in the size of the economy of any nation.
One might ask: what makes industrial automation so beneficial to companies? After all, most companies could easily create their own automated production line, replacing their existing manual processes with those of robots.
The real reason industrial automation is beneficial is the reduction in human involvement in process automation: such systems do not need human laborers in order to execute their tasks.
One might wonder where robots come into the picture. Simply put, industrial robots make the execution of previously manual processes such as welding, cutting, and assembling much easier and more efficient.
The most common type of industrial robot is the remote-guided arm. This type of robotic system enables manufacturers to precisely position and reposition robots in strategic positions.
Likewise, this type of system also allows robots to remain stationary while other operations are in process.
Additionally, industrial automation systems also eliminate the need for extensive resources to oversee the operation of these systems.
In other words, instead of having an entire department dedicated to supervising the operations of each of these machines, an operator will be needed to oversee all processes from start to finish.
Furthermore, thanks to the relatively simplistic designs of today's industrial robots, tasks that were once very time-consuming and difficult can now be accomplished more quickly and with a higher degree of accuracy.
Perhaps one of the most profound effects of industrial automation is its impact on the labor market. Because many tasks formerly performed by humans have been effectively eliminated through technological innovations, many people who formerly worked in very demanding careers find themselves with new, more lucrative jobs.
Many manufacturing companies offer training for individuals interested in entering the industry. Additionally, many jobs are available at a much lower cost due to the advent of these technologies.
As previously stated, industrial automation offers great deals of benefits to both small companies and larger corporations. However, these benefits come at a high initial cost, making it difficult for many companies to afford.
However, given the overall cost-effectiveness of this technology over time, any company that chooses to utilize it is sure to reap the greatest rewards.
Some manufacturers who adopt industrial automation initially face difficulty in finding qualified employees to operate the new machinery.
In many cases, robots are necessary to perform certain tasks because of the nature of these tasks. For example, a manufacturer might require a salesperson to work with the automated machinery in order to provide information about the products the factory has available.
However, this same salesperson would likely have never handled a sales call in the past, due to the fact that he or she would not need to use the machinery to make these calls.
Therefore, a qualified salesperson would likely be better suited for this job than someone who has never operated an electronic device in his or her life.
In addition, industrial automation often requires purchasing expensive, sophisticated machinery, such as industrial robots.
However, the popularity of these machines eventually increases, and new, more affordable models become available.
Additionally, manufacturers eventually learn how to program these robots to do repetitive tasks without actually needing human supervision.
As new applications and uses for these automated devices are discovered, they become cheaper and more affordable.
In addition to making factories more productive, industrial automation is extremely beneficial to consumers.
For example, most refrigerators and air conditioners have built-in temperature sensors. If the temperature inside a building drops below a certain level, the conditioning system will shut down until it is brought up to the temperature level.
However, if the building's temperature sensor does not detect a drop in temperature, the system will continue to operate in the event it senses that something is wrong.
In this manner, industrial automation provides a safety net for people as well as plants and animals.
Does Industrial automation Cost-Effective?
Manufacturers can also save money by automating various processes, including storing inventory, controlling distribution, and calculating profits and costs.
Because these machines and sensors are able to monitor a number of different processes simultaneously, a much higher rate of accuracy can be achieved, thereby increasing profitability.
Furthermore, because processes that are automated do not need humans to supervise them, there is a significantly reduced need for physical staffing.
Finally, automation allows for a higher rate of return on investment because there is no longer any need for workers to do unprofitable tasks.
Thus, industrial automation allows businesses to be significantly more productive without having to employ as many employees.
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