It is indisputable that the role of technology is growing day by day and is significantly revolutionizing the way products are manufactured and how companies are operating. This transition is so fascinating that it was called Industry 4.0. In a previous article, we decoded this growing trend, but what are the benefits of transitioning to Smart Factory 4.0?
Flexible Infrastructure
With the smart Factory, traditional fixed infrastructure, such as conveyor assembly lines, can be eliminated. Instead, autonomous mobile robots ( RMAs ) could be deployed to perform the intelligent movement of materials. Robots will be able to manage and move logistics in a manufacturing facility intelligently and even be programmed to deliver materials to multiple workstations on time to maximize the productivity of each piece of equipment on the production line.
Companies have found that the introduction of RMAs reduces delays by 80% and speeds up delivery of materials by 3x. From a commercial point of view, permanently fixed equipment and successive heavy investments can be avoided. At the same time, work accidents and unavoidable human errors are minimal. Furthermore, as operations are automated, factory workers can be redirected from pure manual work to tasks that add more value.
Adaptable Operations
With robots, factories no longer need to be restricted to linear and sequential production processes. Instead, the order in which tasks are performed and completed can be made more flexible and tailored to current business needs to avoid bottlenecks and ensure the highest level of operational efficiency. This flexibility in operations also allows companies to do mass customization, also known as “batch of one.”
Thus, products can be tailored to each customer’s specific needs, no matter how much individualization is required, allowing companies to be more responsive to consumer demands.
Interconnected Supply Network
The lines between the physical and digital worlds are blurred as software, hardware, and even human beings are integrated into Smart Factory 4.0. The result is an optimized supply chain that can proactively adapt and adjust manufacturing priorities when new information is introduced. These practices and intelligent, interconnected monitoring can revitalize communication and increase the overall efficiency of manufacturing processes.