Automation in manufacturing has a great impact on many facets of an operation. In addition to costs, it also impacts worker safety and productivity. There are many benefits of automation processes in a manufacturing environment. Let’s look at some specifics with regards to the advantages of automation in manufacturing processes.

Obsolescence is an unavoidable part of any manufacturing endeavor. No matter how well your company has planned, some factors are more challenging to consider in advance than others.

In the era of Industry 4.0, new technology continues to revolutionize the manufacturing industry. Industry professionals view it as the latest industrial revolution, hence the Industry 4.0 moniker. Big data and computing technologies are the front-runners in innovations proving value to manufacturers. It is more crucial now than ever to remain on the leading edge of new technology. Upgrading equipment to provide greater efficiencies will provide a greater return on the investment.

Stress is a productivity killer in virtually any industry, and this is no less true for factory workers engaged in physically taxing and oftentimes repetitive and monotonous work within manufacturing plants and warehouses.

Factory work tends to be physically demanding, repetitive, technically complex and potentially dangerous. It includes a range of tasks such as packaging, stacking, sorting, storing, filling, mixing, inspecting and assembling, which often require the use of complex equipment. Physical stressors coupled with productivity demands can prove difficult for factory workers and result in declines in productivity and employee morale. Add to that extended shifts due to staff shortages, increased product demand, or, in extreme cases, a pandemic, and stress levels can skyrocket.

So how can factory workers de-stress after long shifts?

Did you know that manufacturing is the 2^nd most targeted industry by hackers? With that in mind, addressing cybersecurity is more important than ever in the manufacturing industry. Although IIoT and Industry 4.0 in manufacturing create many positive benefits for operations, they also create vulnerabilities within systems. These vulnerabilities make it possible for hackers to gain access to an organization’s systems, equipment and critical data. Because smart manufacturing often connects entire systems, this often allows hackers full system access unless there are proper protections in place.  Companies have traditionally focused on information security in which vulnerabilities were introduced through desktops or server computing.    IIOT and Industry 4.0 have introduced an additional layer of vulnerabilities and threats.

The advent of 5G technology is a highly anticipated tech innovation, particularly in the manufacturing sector, which is poised to benefit greatly from this development. With promising benefits such as super-fast connection, low latency, ultra-reliability, more bandwidth than Wi-Fi and 4G LTE, and support for thousands of devices in one location, no wonder everyone is excited about 5G technology.

With 5G, you can browse the Internet ten times faster, download a full-length movie in less than a minute and stream crisp, clear 4K video. However, the full potential of 5G technology can only be realized when the extent to which it can fundamentally change the manufacturing sector is established.

To understand how 5G technology can revolutionize manufacturing, we’ll talk about how 5G is set to transform the industry.

Welding arc flash is a burn of the outer layers of the eyeball caused by the intense ultra-violet radiation generated by welding. A common cause of arc flashes in the industrial industry is when someone looks directly at the welding area without wearing protective eye gear. Directly looking at the UV radiation generated by the electric welding arcs causes a painful inflammation of the cornea. This is commonly referred to as ‘welder’s eye’ or ‘arc eye.’

At its core, Industry 5.0 is about people working alongside robots and smart machines. That may evoke memories of movies about robots taking over the world. But at its core, robotics is about practicality. Robots will help humans work more efficiently and Industry 5.0 is about the co-existing and co-producing that will occur between humans and machines.

As technology is changing and advancing, there are an array of new manufacturing processes that can elevate operations. Additive manufacturing is completely changing these traditional practices while also saving time and money in the process. Read on to find out if additive manufacturing is right for your operation.

What is Additive Manufacturing?

Additive manufacturing (AM), also referred to as 3D printing, is a process that takes a digital design and creates a tangible object. CAD (computer-aided design) software is used to create a given design where that digital file is uploaded into an additive machine. This machine is then able to produce an object layer by layer with the use of heat lasers or electron beams. Learn more about additive manufacturing here.

What is a Photoelectric Sensor?

Photoelectric sensors are able to detect objects using a light transmitter and a photoelectric receiver. These sensors can assess their surroundings and process the distance of an object and recognize if the object is nearby or absent. Also referred to as the “Photo Eye”, these systems detect a change in light instantly and can easily be incorporated into a variety of different equipment. There are three main ways photoelectric sensors utilize target detection; through-beam, retro-reflective, and proximity or diffused mode.

Today, more then ever, industrial automation is becoming highly prevalent and relied upon to keep up with growing industry expectations. Stemming from the Industrial Revolution manufacturing rapidly increased, which then brought  Mechanization. This made the manufacturing process more optimized and required less labor and amplified production. Currently, with the implementation of automation, we can expand production even further. Now machines are capable of much more and are able to work around the clock and extended productivity.