In Auto Mode

There is a need for precise motion control which is driven by demand from goods placed on the line to the stations they are worked on.

- Bindu Gopal Rao

THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION OR Industry 4.0 is seeing the convergence of Information Technology and Operating Technology (OT). Within IT, lines between applications and infrastructure are blurring in the cloud era. Connectivity is ubiquitous and cheap, while computing power has gone up manifold. Simultaneously, the cost of robotic systems has come down and their versatility has gone up.

The top 10 technologies at the heart of smart manufacturing that are gaining maturity include Internet of Things (IoT), smart sensors, cloud, big data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), industrial robotics, digital twins, 3D printing, augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR), and cyber-security.

“Leaders across the industry are adopting smart manufacturing to gain efficiencies right from the factory floor to the consumer. Manufacturing systems are being upgraded to increase shop-floor productivity, reduce time-to-market, improve quality, enhance workplace safety, and gain real-time visibility into operations,” says Ganesh Kalyanaraman, global delivery head for manufacturing, llogistics, energy and utilities, Cognizant.

Siba Prasad, senior engineering manager, AM- ETEK Instruments India, adds, “Smart manufacturing involves harnessing data; data will tell us “what to do” and “when to do it.” It creates a platform for data collection and sharing with all major resources and uses all intelligence technologies to take smart decision. It connects starting from a small sensor, machines, lines, PLC’s (Programmable Logic Controller),HMI’s (Human Machine Interface), SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data acquisition systems), MES (Manufacturing Execution System), ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), PLM (Product Life Cycle Management), and supply chain.”