HOW BUSINESSES CAN USE THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE TO AUTOMATE.

By Paul McFadyen, Managing Director of metals4U 

 

The Coronavirus pandemic has dominated our global markets for the first half of 2020 and will continue to impact business for the foreseeable future; it has drastically changed the landscape of how we do business now and will continue to do so for some time.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a growth industry but has largely been overlooked by a huge section of industry and manufacturing – many believing they are not a large enough concern to warrant the initial financial outlay, while others may not see where it can help them. ‘Smart’ technology is not just about robotic production lines, it is about increasing effectiveness across all areas of your organisation, regardless of which business sector you belong to or what size your organisation is.

Now it the perfect time to analyse what your business does, how you do it, and most importantly, what aspects can be upgraded to utilise the possibilities of the IIOT (Industrial Internet of Things) to take your business forward to meet the new demands of post-Covid-19 global markets. The IIOT can be used to monitor, control, and update any aspect of your business.

IIOT sensors can be fitted within new installations or retro fitted into existing systems.  The sensors can monitor and detect changes in offices, warehouses, outside spaces, machines, server rooms, they also detect temperature changes, chemical reactions in manufacturing processes that may have an adverse effect on the end product or machinery, they monitor changes in air pressure, in air conditioning units, lighting levels, lift mechanisms; all this monitoring of space and systems create data that is automatically analysed, stored, and acted on following a set of protocols relevant to that particular environment and data set parameters.

Introducing elements of IIOT into the workplace brings benefits that may have been overlooked for a long time. As industry changes, procedures must be challenged and changed to incorporate savings; these can be financial, or time focussed, but are usually a combination the two as in business they are interwoven. The data created by IIOT installations is usually delivered to the system user via an app featuring real time reports and analytics. These dashboards enable a ‘call to action’ to meet maintenance requirements meaning less unplanned downtime, it can help decrease labour costs, and improve work safety.

Manufacturing is perfect for utilising IIOT and automation as all elements of the process can be led by data. An order can be processed, resources allocated, manufacture time scheduled, and the final product ready for dispatch without a human ever needing to be physically present.

The ability to have an overall view of machinery and resources over a small site can start to build a new generation of more efficient workflow and save valuable resources, of course these systems are scalable for those requiring a global overview of all your sites, personnel, and assets.

Automating elements of workflow within any business, from a small manufacturing business, to a customer service call centre, through to a vast market leading production plant, will make the difference between successfully navigating the changing landscape, and floundering helplessly as success and growth pass them by.

Smart factories utilising data collection technology makes it possible to do great things. Sensors on machinery monitors processes and builds a data fingerprint that can be used to alert staff when equipment needs repair or maintenance. This means you drastically reduce downtime due to broken machinery and save money on expensive repairs. Self-Driving Vehicles (SDV) are another automation option, these are used for picking and moving products during manufacture or logistics operations; they are responsive to employees moving around so are safer than human driven vehicles within an industrial setting. There is less room for human error causing accidents, and no accrual of holiday pay, maximum working hours, or days lost to sickness.

Automation is not about replacing human employees; it is about empowering employees to be more productive and effective. For example, utilising a chat bot for the most basic and frequently asked enquiries means that customer service advisors are more available to deal directly with customers that require deeper information and more personal service, or using an automatic call distribution system will direct callers directly to the most appropriate employee; reducing the number of contact points each enquiry entails saves your organisation time and money while providing your customers with a more meaningful customer journey.

Labour shortage is a commonly reported concern for many manufacturers, the move towards smart factories will create an evolution and even a revolution in the tasks your employees undertake. Automating some or all of your processes frees up time for your workplace talent to embark on more complex projects and elements of the business, the parts that need creativity and originality, while the automated processes complete the repetitive, mundane, or more dangerous elements of your business environment.

Investment in automated infrastructure and systems does require a financial investment that company owners and financial directors may be concerned about committing to now, but this resistance could be the decision that stalls growth and security in the long term. Automation brings many long-term productivity gains and leaves a business less susceptible to financial downturn when the next pandemic strikes, and sooner or later it will, automation is the way forward to future proof your business and preserve the long term health and safety, and financial security, of your employees.

We have all heard about the digital talent gap, and businesses should be taking the opportunity during this time of changing business landscape to invest in training and increase the digital skills set of its employees. Following a period of investment in automation, we need to safeguard new assets and resources to ensure we do not face a shortage of workers with the required skills to work and operate our new automated processes.

Smart Manufacturing Platforms are experiencing a steady growth in demand and now is the time to get proactive in the automation revolution to reap the financial, environmental, and increased productivity rewards.

Crucial to the success of automation is the monitoring of data and harnessing the power that data provides; smart data collection and automation connect the top floor to the factory floor.

 

spot_img

Explore more