Modernising factories through automation

Manufacturers and factories that are modernising may be considering the use of automation to increase efficiency and production capacity. The upcoming Modern Manufacturing Expo, running this September, has dedicated a section for automation and digital elements in factories.

Automated Systems & Controls (ASC) will be demonstrating its products at the event, showing visitors how it can produce automated factories that are tailored to their needs and requirements.

“Manufacturers have a lot of flexibility in the level of automation they choose to implement, as it can range from automating a single operation on the factory floor to end-to-end automation of entire production chains with no human involvement,” said Ryan Hart, Manager – Deep Learning & Machine Vision Solutions at ASC. “Factory automation can also be implemented at any point in the manufacturing process, making this an agile and surprisingly cost-effective solution.”

However, delivering automated factories is not as simple as providing new equipment, and ASC cautions that there needs to be consideration for how existing production problems could be addressed.

“It’s our job to understand each aspect of the job ahead by talking to those who have the greatest insights before we can begin to offer solutions,” Hart said. “Factory automation may be technologically based, but the human element should not be underestimated.”

ASC suggests that iteration and an agile workflow can produce a tailored approach to factory automation and that this could overcome otherwise overlooked issues.

Some considerations that ACS thinks could be missed by those without automation expertise are things like the ways that lighting quality can impact camera-equipped robots or the degree to which printing on packaging can vary and cause issues for automation. These factors may be undetectable to human eyes but could confound a highly calibrated machine, which is why dealing with them through careful testing and tweaking is necessary.

The Modern Manufacturing Expo will be held at the Sydney Showground from 20–21 September. The event will cover a number of manufacturing areas including automation, 3D printing and sustainable factory environments. ASC will be exhibiting at booth L12.

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