Industrial automation: The main future trends
Industrial Automation is a fundamental strategy aimed at using automated technologies and systems to improve the efficiency, productivity and quality of manufacturing processes.
This technique has been increasingly used by industries around the world, which has led to a growing demand for qualified professionals in this area.
Industrial Automation is capable of increasing the efficiency and precision of processes, reducing costs and increasing the competitiveness of companies.
It uses sensors, actuators, controllers and communication systems to automate production processes.
The integration of these components allows machines to operate autonomously, without the need for human intervention. In addition, Industrial Automation can be integrated with other technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT) and advanced robotics, to create even more efficient and precise systems.
In this article, we will discuss important points about Industrial Automation, its principles and the expectations of its application in the future of industry.
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What industrial automation does
Industrial Automation is a technology that aims to transform manual processes into automatic oneseliminating the need for human operation. This is possible thanks to the use of software and robotics, which control the action of machines and equipment using pre-established parameters.
The professionals responsible for the entire automation process within the company, from designing equipment to maintaining it.
They use techniques, software, hardware, programming and equipment to make a production line automatic and less dependent on manual effort.
Industrial Automation brings several advantages to industries, such as increasing productivity, reducing costs, improving product quality and reducing production time. It also makes it possible to carry out processes that would be impossible to do manually, such as producing extremely precise parts and carrying out quality tests on a large scale.
In Brazil, according to a survey carried out by the Brazilian Automation Association (GS1 Brasil)factories have an average of 65% digital technology on their production lines. This is still shy compared to other countries. This puts Brazil in 39th place in the ranking of the most automated countries in 2022, according to IFR (International Federation of Robotics).
Its main objective is to optimize the production processes of industries, making them more efficient, safe and economical.
With it, it is possible to increase the competitiveness of companies in the market, generating more jobs and contributing to economic development.
Principles of industrial automation
Industrial automation is a set of technologies that use control systems, such as software and robotics, to automate industrial processes and equipment.
To ensure complete optimization of the production process in industries, Industrial Automation is based on a few key principles to achieve the results it proposes.
I look at the three main principles of Industrial Automation: Process Control, Industrial Robotics and Production Systems.
Process control
Process control is one of the most important principles of industrial automation. It is responsible for monitoring and adjusting production process variables such as temperature, pressure, flow, level and quality. The aim is to keep the process within the defined limits, ensuring that the end products have the desired quality.
To do this, sensors, controllers and actuators are used to collect data and carry out the necessary actions to keep the process within limits.
Process Control allows production to be more efficient, safe and sustainable.
Industrial robotics
Industrial Robotics is another important principle of Industrial Automation. It is responsible for automating repetitive and dangerous tasks such as welding, painting, assembly and packaging.
Industrial robots are programmed to perform these tasks precisely and reliably, reducing production time and increasing product quality.
In addition, Industrial Robotics allows workers to be moved to more qualified and strategic functions, increasing productivity and job satisfaction.
Production systems
Production Systems are the third principle of Industrial Automation. They are responsible for integrating the various production processes, from raw materials to the end product. Production systems allow production to be more flexible and adaptable to market changes, reducing costs and increasing efficiency.
Production systems include technologies such as CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing), which allow complex parts to be created and produced with high precision and speed.
In addition, the production systems include traceability technologies, which allow the product to be monitored at every stage of the production process, guaranteeing the quality and safety of the end products.
The future of industrial automation
Industrial Automation is a reality that keeps pace with technological advances and seeks to optimize production processes, simplify routine tasks and promote the safety of professionals in the sector. But what is its future in this scenario?
There is reason to be optimistic that the future of Industrial Automation will be scalable, open and integrated.
Some of the main trends set to impact machine manufacturers and factory operations include:
Artificial intelligence (AI)AI is a technology that allows machines to learn from experiences and make autonomous decisions. It has the potential to transform industrial automation, making it more efficient, precise and flexible.
Internet of Things (IoT)IoT is a network of connected devices that communicate with each other and with other systems. It can be used in industrial automation to remotely monitor and control production processes, reducing downtime and increasing efficiency.
Collaborative roboticsCollaborative robotics is a technology that allows robots to work together with humans, sharing the same workspace and carrying out complementary tasks. It can be used in Industrial Automation to increase productivity, reduce cycle times and improve worker safety.
Augmented reality (AR)AR is a technology that allows virtual information to be superimposed on real-world information. It can be used in industrial automation to provide workers with real-time information on production processes, reducing training time and increasing efficiency.
Additive manufacturingAdditive manufacturing is a technology that allows parts to be manufactured layer by layer from a digital model. It can be used to reduce production time, customize parts according to customer needs and reduce material waste.
The future of Industrial Automation is related to the so-called fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0), and the main pillar of this concept is precisely to automate processes.
The next wave of this revolution has already begun in some countries and is called Society 5.0, which will be driven by three fundamental principles: sustainability, openness and inclusion.
With these trends and technologies, Industrial Automation has a promising future that can bring many benefits to companies, workers and society as a whole.
In this article, we explored the concept of Industrial Automation and its importance for modern industry. We saw that industrial automation is a fundamental strategy that aims to use automated technologies and systems to improve the efficiency, productivity and quality of manufacturing processes.
Today, it is a constantly evolving field and is key to increasing the efficiency of modern industry.
