Automated manufacturing systems operate in the factory on the physical product. They perform operations such as processing, assembly, inspection, or material handling, in some cases accomplishing more than one of these operations in the same system.
Companies undertake projects in manufacturing automation and computer-integrated manufacturing for a variety of good reasons. Some of the reasons used to justify automation are listed below. Of course, there are many other reasons, so feel free to add your reasons below in the comment box.
Also, I’ve put few interesting videos with latest news in automation of manufacturing processes at the bottom of this article. Enjoy!
1. To increase labor productivity
Automating a manufacturing operation usually increases production rate and labor productivity. This means greater output per hour of labor input.
2. To reduce labor cost
Ever-increasing labor cost has been and continues to be the trend in the world’s industrialized societies. Consequently, higher investment in automation has become economically justifiable to replace manual operations.
3. To mitigate the effects of labor shortages
There is a general shortage of labor in some countries, and this has stimulated the development of automated operations as a substitute for labor.
4. To reduce or eliminate routine manual and clerical tasks
An argument can be put forth that there is social value in automating operations that are routine, boring, fatiguing, and possibly irksome. Automating such tasks serves a purpose of improving the general level of working conditions.
5. To improve worker safety
By automating a given operation and transferring the worker from active participation in the process to a supervisory role, the work is made safer. The safety and physical well-being of the worker has become a national objective with the enactment of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) in 1970. This has provided an impetus for automation.
6. To improve product quality
Automation not only results in higher production rates than manual operations. It also performs the manufacturing process with greater uniformity and conformity to quality specifications. Reduction of fraction defect rate is one of the chief benefits of automation.
7. To reduce manufacturing lead time
Automation helps to reduce the elapsed time between customer order and product delivery, providing a competitive advantage to the manufacturer for future orders. By reducing manufacturing lead time, the manufacturer also reduces work-in-process inventory.
8. To accomplish processes that cannot be done manually
Certain operations cannot be accomplished without the aid of a machine. These processes have requirements for precision, miniaturization, or complexity of geometry, that cannot be achieved manually.
9. To avoid the high cost of not automating
There is a significant competitive advantage gained in automating a manufacturing plant. The advantage cannot easily be demonstrated on a company’s project authorization form.
