In this article, we will analyze all the features that make Smart Manufacturing the key to revolutionizing the functioning of companies operating in the industrial sector.
Smart Manufacturing (or Intelligent Manufacturing ) refers to production activities that use industrial machinery and new digital technologies in perfect synergy.
The union of these two distant worlds, that of Industry and that of the Internet of Things, have already proved to be the winning choice for all the realities that have already been implemented. What allows their perfect cooperation is the integration of special sensors inside the machinery. Using these tools will enable you to collect in real time all the data relating to the operating states and performance of the production machinery.
Each company that initiates this evolution within its production processes is identified with the term Smart Factory (or Intelligent Factory ). In itself, the term smart means intelligent. Used in this context, however, the value it embodies is broader because it refers to the ability of technology to improve current operating conditions.
The Innovations Brought About By Smart Manufacturing
The changes attributable to Smart Manufacturing are numerous, and each represents a real revolution for the Production and Industry sector. The birth of new dynamics has transformed this phenomenon into one of the most promising paths companies can take today.
The main innovations brought by Smart Manufacturing are three: the possibility of analyzing the machinery in real-time, the case of acting with a view to prevention rather than Repair and the possibility of sharing the recorded data quickly. with all stakeholders.
Real-Time Machine Analysis
Check the machinery’s functioning in a few simple steps. This factor allows those who deal with it to always have under control the operational status of all the elements that make up the production chain.
Act To Prevent, No More To Repair
By having an up-to-date operating report available, companies can intervene in individual processes that show the need for optimization to improve overall performance.
In addition, such a clear view of machinery conditions can revolutionize operators’ and maintenance technicians’ tasks and functions. Instead of being forced to repair the damage afterwards, in fact, Smart Manufacturing allows us to foresee and avoid possible malfunctions.
Quick Data Sharing
The Industry is changing fast, and Smart Manufacturing is leading this revolution. One of the main differences between Smart Manufacturing and the previous industry model is undoubtedly the speed with which data is received and processed by all the figures involved in the production chain, from those involved in the supply chain to high-level managers.
Smart Manufacturing Within Industry 4.0
Smart Manufacturing has contributed to the growth of the process that takes the name of Industry 4.0. The current trend is to introduce new technologies in the sector to improve all aspects, including increasing productivity and the quality of products and services significantly.
As we have seen in the previous paragraphs, the birth of the Connected Factories has made it possible to take a further step towards achieving the innovation and modernization of Industry 4.0.
In particular, Smart Manufacturing represents the latest evolution of the Production and Industry sector. It is important to remember that, until a few years ago, it was not even possible to imagine a scenario in which the operational status of all machinery could be monitored through the use of the IoT. The vigorous development of technological tools was the element that made it possible to initiate this significant change.
When the technology had not yet reached such advanced levels, all the data concerning the operation of industrial equipment were stored and stored on local databases. The maintenance technicians then analyzed these data sources to ascertain the extent of the fault and act accordingly to repair it.
Smart Manufacturing And Augmented Reality
Augmented Reality ( AR Augmented Reality ) plays a fundamental role in the world of Smart Manufacturing.
The immersive nature of Augmented Reality allows you to use innovative tools, such as Microsoft Hololens, to examine machinery from an entirely new point of view, invisible to the human eye.
The superimposition of virtual elements on the surrounding environment allows to achieve numerous objectives, the most important of which are:
- Identify production steps that need optimization and efficiently use raw materials to maximize results.
- Check the health of the machinery and follow step-by-step visual guides that show all the steps to resolve faults or malfunctions that may occur during the life cycle of the equipment.
- Receive help from a remote team with a complete vision of the situation thanks to the AR tools and help the maintenance worker by guiding him during the intervention process on the machinery.
- Last, there is the creation of Digital Twins, a topic we will explore more in the next paragraph.
The Importance Of The Digital Twin
The Digital Twin (or Digital Twin) is a highly accurate representation of an industrial machine in digital form. The R&D department of companies uses this exact copy of the tool to improve the efficiency of production processes and avoid malfunctions due to poor prevention activity. Help you. Groove transforms all your industrial machines into Smart Connected Products by developing customized Web and Mobile IoT Applications.
Also Read: Smart Manufacturing: Industry 4.0 As A Balancing Act For Mechanical Engineering
