Successful Factory Automation (original) (raw)

A Concept of Factory Automation

1975

Absfracf-Currentlv. many manufacturing functions are automated through the use of computers and associated equipment. The support of ,administrative functions such as material and labor control to regulate costs and measure results is aided by the use of medium to large computers at the plant site or through communications to a central computer site. The control of processes, such as testing and assembly,. are improved through the use of mini-and microprocessors'as well as programmable controllers. The engineering problem solving and design now involve the use of hand-held and desktop calculators as well as time-shared and remote processing on a central computer. All of these things have but one basic goal: cost effective manufacturing.

AUTOMATION PROPOSAL FOR A PRODUCTION FACTORY

In a productive process, the implementation of automation systems is not always justified, but there are certain indicators that justify and make necessary the implementation of these systems. As manufacturing systems, grow in complexity, certain processes become obsolete and difficult to manage manually, hindering compliance and expansion of production standards. Automation emerges as a solution to these problems, and when applied correctly, it can minimize time, increase quality and perform other tasks that are impossible for the worker, among other benefits. When a process is automated, it is because after performing various analyzes it is known that said automation would positively and significantly affect at least one of the company's indicators. This article describes the characterization of a company manufacturing cooling products, as well as the analysis to detect a process that can be improved through automation. This process turned out to be the cutting and punching of the metal sheets that make up the main structure of the chillers, which are the processes with which the entire production cycle begins. The present proposal will allow the company to generate an economic impact that encompasses the improvement of a process in time and quality, in addition to promoting the reduction of labor and energy expenditure, which leads to substantial economic savings.

The Management of Operations

2020

Although many manual operations have been replaced by automation in the manufacturing domain in various industries, skilled operators still carry out critical manual tasks such as final assembly. The business case for automation in these areas is difficult to justify due to increased complexity and costs arising out of process variabilities associated with those tasks. The lack of understanding of process variability in automation design means that industrial automation often does not realize the full benefits at the first attempt, resulting in the need to spend additional resource and time, to fully realize the potential. This article describes a taxonomy of variability when considering the automation of manufacturing processes. Three industrial case studies were analyzed to develop the proposed taxonomy. The results obtained from the taxonomy are discussed with a further case study to demonstrate its value in supporting automation decision-making. ARTICLE HISTORY Received 3 Septem...

ROLE OF AUTOMATION IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES

In the last decades, industrial automation has become a driving force in all production systems. Technologies and architectures have emerged alongside the growing organizational structures of production plants. Industrial automation plays an important role in industrial and manufacturing environment. Industrial automation means automatically control of industrial appliances which save money, time also reduce human efforts. Automation devices such as controllers and data systems and/or services. Systems and methods are provided that receive statements or other unit of data interaction from an automation device, provide the statements to an appropriate system or service for processing, and optionally return a response such as a result set. In this paper brief study about the automation, level of automation, Industrial automation and types of industrial automation etc.

Economic justification of modern computer-based factory automation equipment: A status report

Annals of Operations Research, 1985

This paper provides a status report on the economic justification of modern computer-based factory automation equipment. Such equipment, although offering improved productivity and flexibility, is nevertheless oftentimes difficult to justify using traditional discounted cash flow evaluation methodologies. In this paper, we first establish and explain four different categories into which most of the literature on this subject generally falls. We then present the results of interviews with executives in manufacturing companies that have experienced varying degrees of success in justifying automation. During these interviews, we sought to determine how the automation was justified as well as the difficulties encountered. Finally, we consolidate the information obtained from our examination of the literature and our interviews, and we synthesize a set of options available to todays manager attempting to justify the introduction of automation systems. We present these options in terms of immediate, near-term and long-term managerial alternatives.

AUTOMATION/ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY/COMPUTER-BASED INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGY

This short chapter provides an overview of the history and development of automation within organizations and the emergence of advanced manufacturing technology. The implications for organizations and employees is discussed, together with consideration as to emerging forms of technology advancement (e.g., cloud computing and machine learning). A Socio-Technical Systems approach for managing the implementation of new technologies and associated changes is introduced.

Does Levels of Automation need to be changed in an assembly system?-A case study

2008

Production of to day is getting more and more competitive and companies have to be on top in their area in order to survive. This paper discuss if Levels of Automation need to be changed in assembly systems in order to achieve companies goals when it comes to flexibility and time minimisation. The empirical data is gathered through case studies at six different companies.

Failure, Uncertainty and Control: The Role of Operators in a Computer Integrated Production System

Journal of Management Studies, 1985

This article presents the findings of a case study which analyzed how new electronics and computing technology affected the role of process operators in a continuous process plant manufacturing pigments in Scotland. T h e first stage of the research was a participant observation study of the site over two years. Three years later, production managers and operators were interviewed, and an observation study was carried out over one full shift in the plant studied. T h e results demonstrate that the process operators required considerable skill, knowledge, experience and training to deal with process faults, cope with contingcncies, and to control the process effectively. T h e operators reported that they found interest and challenge in the work. T h e impact of technical change on the quality of working life was, however, equivocal. T h e operators' mobility was constrained, they were isolated from the rest of the plant, some messy manual tasks remained, and they were still dependent on the technical and chemical expertise of management and engineering staff to handle serious problems. Other operators were less enthusiastic about the work. Management expected the new systems to reduce human intervention and control. But the limitations of the computer controls and the high cost of error meant that effective production was more dependent on human presence and ability than in simpler batch production. Advances in computing technology may highlight the conflict between management desires to reduce human operator control and to design effective integrated production systems.