Saving time and resources: The benefits of industrial automation

Imagine the world exactly as it is today. 

From modern electronic devices to precision-packaged food, we have many options. This plethora of products is not the result of chance, but of an process that has Industrial Automation at its center. at its center.

Over the decades, this technology has played a key role in creating the modern world we live in. 

If we consider the roots of manufacturing right up to today's highly optimized production methods, it's easy to see the impact and the benefits of Industrial Automation.

Its evolution has radically transformed society and the way we create and consume products.

In this article, you will understand the evolution of Industrial Automation over the years and the benefits it has brought to manufacturing processes.

Happy reading!

The evolution of industrial automation

The history of Industrial Automation, despite seeming recent and having gained greater notoriety in the 20th century, begins back in the 18th century. 

Its evolution is divided into a number of phases that have distinct characteristics that have contributed differently and gradually to reaching the level of efficiency and benefits of Industrial Automation Current.

Let's look at the divisions and how each one contributed.

Mechanization and the industrial revolution

This first phase took place in the 18th century, starting in England and later spreading to Europe and the USA.

Society was going through a process of transition from a rural, manufacturing society to an urban, industrial society.

The expansion of cities, the rise of steam engines and the assembly line model began to replace manual labor in many industries. Machines as an extension of man increased production capacity, giving rise to the history of global production.

Automation with numerical control 

Two centuries later, new advances were made in the history of automation with the development of numerical control, also known as NC.

Numerical control was the first way of programming a machine to perform precise tasks, using numbers, letters or symbols. 

This new technology has enabled machines to perform operations based on programmed instructions.

Programmable automation and robotics 

More recently, in the 1960s, the first programmable robot was introduced into a manufacturing process. Unimate, as the invention was called, was developed as a kind of mechanical arm to move metal parts at high temperatures in a casting machine.

Programmable robots have proven to be highly effective in repetitive and dangerous tasks in industry, allowing more complex processes to be carried out while reducing the risk of accidents for operators. 

It was during this period that robotics began to gain greater prominence on the industrial scene.

Systems integration and advanced automation 

By the 1980s, Information Technology had become more advanced. With this, a new era of Industrial Automation emerged, driven by the Integration of Complex Systems. 

The introduction of SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems has played a key role in this evolution, allowing centralized monitoring and control of industrial processes, even in remote control rooms, providing a real-time view of operations.

Advanced Automation has evolved to include new technologies such as Programmable Logic Control Systems (PLC), Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP). 

The integration of all these systems has allowed for a more harmonious flow of information throughout the organization.

Advanced Automation has also brought techniques such as automation based on fuzzy logic and Artificial Intelligence. These approaches have allowed business leaders to make more complex decisions based on rules and patterns, resulting in more optimized and adaptable operations.

Industry 4.0 and the era of intelligent automation 

In the last decade, Industry 4.0 has ushered in a new era of Industrial Automation, shaping the future of industry and ushering in the Age of Intelligent Automation.

Industry 4.0 and Intelligent Automation are closely related. Through the Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data and Machine Learning, factories have become highly interconnected and intelligent ecosystems.

Industry 4.0 provides the backdrop and framework for Intelligent Automation to make the "magic" happen. Industry 4.0 technologies, such as IoT and real-time data analytics, empower Intelligent Automation by providing the information needed for autonomous decision-making and process optimization.

Together, they are increasing efficiency, improving quality, reducing costs and transforming the way we produce goods and products.

A evolutionthe benefits of Industrial Automation and its impact on the global economy over the years is undeniable, radically transforming the way we produce and consume goods and products.

From the first steps in mechanization to the great leaps in today's Industry 4.0 era, automation has brought substantial gains in efficiency, quality and savings in financial resources. 

With each new phase, companies continue to reap the benefits of Industrial Automation, demonstrating its vital role in the development of society and modern industry.

The benefits of industrial automation

Adopting Industrial Automation today is no longer a smart choice, but an essential one. 

Companies from different industries use the benefits of Industrial Automation not only to boost manufacturing efficiency, but also to optimize two of an industry's greatest assets: time e resources.

Industrial automation and saving time

As we have seen, one of the great benefits of Industrial Automation is the creation of a scenario where repetitive and time-consuming tasks are carried out automatically by machines. This saves employees time, allowing them to concentrate on more strategic activities with greater added value. 

Automated machines perform tasks with consistent speed and precision. This results in shorter production cycles, allowing products to be manufactured more quickly for customers.

Automation also drastically reduces human error. This means less rework and time spent correcting problems and an increase in overall efficiency.

Another of the great benefits of Industrial Automation is the ability to keep production lines running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, without the need for frequent rest stops or shift changes. This undoubtedly optimizes the use of time.

Finally, automation systems can identify and respond to variations in production conditions instantly, minimizing delays and avoiding interruptions.

We'll now talk about the benefits of Industrial Automation focused on reducing costs.

Industrial automation and cost reduction

In the previous topic, we mentioned the benefits of Industrial Automation and its impact on reducing production time. This in itself leads to a series of cost savings, which is one of the main reasons why companies invest in Industrial Automation.

It allows simple, repetitive tasks that were previously performed by humans to be done by machines. This reduces the need for additional labor and lowers the costs associated with training, for example.

Energy efficiency is another highlight of Industrial Automation. Automated systems can be optimized to use energy more efficiently, resulting in reduced operating costs.

The benefits of Industrial Automation can also be seen when it comes to environmental and business sustainability. By monitoring processes and materials, it is possible to reduce waste of raw materials and adjust production according to real demand, avoiding the accumulation of unsold stock.

Finally, there is preventive maintenance. Early detection of potential problems predicts maintenance needs in advance, reducing repair costs and avoiding unscheduled downtime.

The benefits of Industrial Automation have a direct impact on companies' financial results. 

By optimizing processes, it saves time and reduces costs, freeing up resources that can be directed towards innovation, expansion and continuous improvement. 

The adoption of this technology goes far beyond simple modernization, it represents a strategic and powerful move that boosts competitiveness, making companies more agile, efficient and profitable.

We, at Cast group, believe in the power of Industrial Automation to transform different types of business, impacting the evolution of Industry as a whole. 

That said, this year we became a systems integrator Rockwell Automation through the PartnerNetwork™the multinational's partnership program, and we are now a Rockwell service provider