In an era where efficiency and innovation drive the global economy, industrial automation stands at the forefront of technological advancements. As we step into 2024, the landscape of industrial automation is evolving at an unprecedented pace, reshaping industries and redefining the possibilities of modern manufacturing and production. From smart factories to artificial intelligence-driven processes, the trends emerging this year promise to enhance productivity, improve safety, and foster sustainable practices across various sectors.
This blog aims to explore the top industrial automation trends that are set to make a significant impact in 2024 and beyond. By delving into the latest innovations and technological breakthroughs, we will provide insights into how businesses can leverage these trends to stay competitive and achieve operational excellence. Join us as we uncover the future of industrial automation and its transformative potential for industries worldwide.
Manufacturing reshoring
Over the last two years, we’ve seen everything from toilet paper shortages to widespread semiconductor chip shortages. The chip shortage has caused a massive manufacturing bottleneck – from automobiles to consumer electronics, all manufacturers are feeling the strain. China and Taiwan currently produce the vast majority of the world’s semiconductors. Demand growth, supply chain issues, and raw material shortages have all contributed to an increase in the number of manufacturers looking to reshore their operations in North America. A recent trade agreement between the United States, Mexico, and Canada has enticed manufacturers to relocate factories to North America.
Greater emphasis on cyber security
Reports of ransomware attacks on American utilities have highlighted the need for improved cyber security. A group of Russian hackers infiltrated Colonial Pipeline last year via the VPN network that employees used to remotely access their system. The ransom was paid in bitcoin, and hackers have since become even more daring, attacking infrastructure, manufacturers, and even private citizens. It is becoming increasingly important for businesses to implement a strong and agile cyber security plan to protect their assets and operations.
Traditional manufacturing vs. additive manufacturing
In recent years, 3D printing has taken the world by storm. Since the concept of 3D printing was first proposed in the 1940s, technology has advanced significantly in terms of tooling and filaments. Today, 3D printing is being used as additive manufacturing, allowing for the faster and more accurate creation of industrial prototypes. As the list of printable materials expands across all mediums, businesses must consider what mix of traditional manufacturing vs. additive manufacturing makes sense, and how quickly they should integrate the new technology.
In less than two years, hearing aid manufacturers in the United States transitioned from traditional to additive manufacturing, increasing manufacturing flexibility and allowing for greater customization.
The significance of predictive maintenance
Predictive maintenance has been around for a long time, but there has been a huge increase in the need to collect data from every aspect of the industrial manufacturing process in recent years. Every stage of a manufactured product’s journey is scrutinized. Sensors monitor vibrations, temperatures, noise, humidity, and other parameters to reduce waste and loss by ensuring that a line is operating at peak efficiency. When a bearing or a motor reaches the end of its life cycle, condition monitoring systems notify the user. The days of dispatching a technician to the floor to perform routine scheduled maintenance on a motor simply because the calendar says so are over.
Tools associated with automation
Industrial automation has a variety of effects on the manufacturing process, depending on the tool used. The following is a list of the most common industrial control components.
DCS
A distributed control system has many control loops. Various autonomous controllers can be found throughout the system. These systems are used in large manufacturing operations such as chemical or water treatment plants, oil refineries, and nuclear power plants. For example, after Mark III, General Electric turbine control systems used DCS. IS200VSCAH2ABA, IS200ESYSH2A, IS200EDCFG1ACB are some examples of such components that are released later.
Robotics/Robots:
Robots are machines that learn how to improve their processes. They can carry out complex tasks automatically by using embedded control or programming from an external device. Robotics improves automation quality, increases production flow, and reduces the risk of labor damage by performing dangerous operations.
Human Machine Interface.
Human-machine interaction (HMI) refers to how humans interact with machines. A graphical user interface that allows an operator to interact with a controller. This is frequently accompanied by a touchpad or a touch panel.
Business practices that are both sustainable and environmentally friendly.
Manufacturers are much more environmentally conscious today than they were even ten years ago. Consumer purchasing habits have influenced much of this. Today’s consumers are far more likely to buy products made of sustainable materials from reputable manufacturers who take their environmental responsibilities seriously. To amplify this trend, rising energy and resource costs are causing manufacturers to adopt more environmentally friendly processes. Manufacturers can help reduce negative environmental effects by taking a total lifecycle view of the entire manufacturing process, the product itself, and the resources and raw materials.
Summary
The new year is full of promise as we embark on another trip around the sun. The future of industrial automation is brimming with new opportunities to develop superior processes and provide customers with better products. With a lot of hard work and a bit of luck, these 2024 trends could make “future dreams” a reality, improving the way we work and live for years to come.
