The Impending Tide of Industrial Automation

tariq.ahmad — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 20:53:02 GMT

Current Revision posted to Documents by tariq.ahmad on 10/6/2021 8:53:02 PM

More than 50 years ago, automation changed the outlook of manufacturing industries for good. General Motors’ Unimate, the first industrial robot of its kind, sped up the completion of routine tasks and ushered in an era of streamlined production. Advancements in technology, however, have enabled automation to assume a much larger role in industrial maintenance and repair that are changing the traditional role of the engineer.

Emerging technologies

The introduction of automation has enabled manufacturers to cut costs and operate more efficiently than ever before. One such innovation that has helped improve the manufacturing process is Eureqa, machine intelligence software from Nutonian, Inc. that can analyze manufacturing data to improve the performance and reduce the cost of titanium turbine engine components. The software is so effective that it erases the need for actual engineers who use data to forecast the performance of manufactured parts.

Further enhancements in technology have spurred the development of robots at production plants of French car manufacturer Renault, which are much less clumsy than previous assembly line robots. In fact, these robots have the ability to put together small parts and reach even the most difficult spots on a vehicle. They can also operate in close proximity to other workers by using cameras to detect if they are nearby. The robot is then alerted of their presence and directed to slow down or stop completely, putting to rest the notion that such robots are dangerous.

Adapting to change

Despite being decades old, the idea of automation isn’t going away anytime soon. The global market for industrial automation equipment (IAE) continues to grow at steady rates. By 2017, revenues from the IAE market are expected to rise all the way to $225 billion. The expansion of automation places traditional industrial engineers in a precarious position - understand and prepare for these changes or face the possibility of being outpaced by increasingly sophisticated automation technology.

Engineers can and should take advantage of ways in which they can boost their value to manufacturers. In particular, there will be a need for engineers who can analyze and decide how automated technology should best be integrated within existing manufacturing processes and procedures.

In addition, engineers can foster the cycle of constant innovation by identifying potential improvements in automation. While automated software systems might be able to process information more quickly than humans, industrial engineers have the opportunity to expand on the limitations of a coded program.

The rise of state-of-the-art technology will certainly alter the roles and responsibilities of conventional industrial engineers, but they will not become obsolete altogether. Engineers have a reputation for overcoming the toughest challenges. Working alongside automated technology is no exception.