ADVANCED MANUFACTURING: GROWING USE OF AUTOMATION IN MANUFACTURING

The manufacturing sector has travelled a long way from Industry 1.0, which used water and steam power to mechanise production, to Industry 4.0, which uses technology to streamline and mechanise production. The article elaborates on technology in advanced manufacturing and how it can help turn India into a global manufacturing hub.

- Guruprasad Bangle

Advanced manufacturing is the process of leveraging the most advanced technology available at the current time to maximise the output and/or product quality of a manufacturing facility. In the context of manufacturing, automation is the use of equipment to automate systems or production processes. The end goal is to drive greater efficiency by either increasing production capacity or reducing costs, often both. Advanced manufacturing is changing the way products are being made.

HOW IS THE USE OF AUTOMATION IN MANUFACTURING CHANGING?

When used correctly, automation can benefit the manufacturing industry significantly. These benefits can manifest in several ways, including:

• Reduced production time: Because machinery can operate more quickly and efficiently than human workers in many cases, it can help a production move faster

• Higher-volume production: Machinery can create products in less time and produce more of them within a given time frame

• Less human error: Human workers are susceptible to misjudgement and forgetfulness, but these are mistakes machines don’t tend to make

• Increased safety: Because people don’t have to be as involved with the production process, they can stay safer. If something goes wrong on the assembly line, the worst-case scenario may be a broken machine part rather than an injured worker.