Cost savings, flexibility, quality improvement, and efficiency converge in creating a ‘smart factory’. Through various solutions and technologies, smart manufacturing aims to propel a company towards growth and progress. Analyzing data and making decisions based on this data is a significant part of smart production. Thanks to Industry 4.0, collecting data has become much simpler nowadays. But analyzing the data? That’s where smart manufacturing comes into play. Smart manufacturing can be a good idea to implement in the organization for several reasons.
Why smart manufacturing?
Analyzing data and internally implementing smart production leads to potential improvements in the company. Think of quickly detecting deviations in the production process, better predictions for Lean manufacturing, and implementing an accessible and digital production process. These benefits make it possible to reduce costs. With accurate predictions and adjustments, you can reduce inventory, eliminate waste, and improve insight into production throughput. Additionally, quality is quickly improved thanks to systematically analyzed process data and production data. Connections related to quality are made more quickly, as well as the correct classification of materials that meet quality standards. Moreover, if we implement the adjustments resulting from smart production meticulously in the company, we can also accelerate production. Flexibly respond to changes in the production process, guarantee timely delivery, and ensure successful launches of new products – all through smart manufacturing. So, not only do you significantly upgrade productivity, efficiency, quality, and cost savings, but customer satisfaction will also increase simultaneously.
Examples of smart manufacturing
Smart manufacturing can encompass multiple technologies that you can implement in the factory. Examples include applying Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Augmented Reality (AR) or Virtual Reality (VR). But also, co-bots and blockchain are increasingly being integrated as a fixed part of the smart manufacturing strategy. Thus, smart manufacturing can take on various forms. However, automation will always be at the top of the priority list for the ‘factory of the future’.
Smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0
In smart production, the digital world and physical production align. This means that smart manufacturing goes hand in hand with Industry 4.0. A factory preparing itself for the future will, therefore, largely focus on smart production to stay ahead of the competition. New technologies such as AI and Internet of Things are already indispensable in smart manufacturing strategies. This way, the digital world and the physical world are gradually becoming more connected. By considering connectivity between production and digital capabilities in all future steps, you consciously and gradually build your own smart factory.
How do you approach it step by step?
Do you want to integrate smart manufacturing in the most beneficial way? Then start by analyzing production data, improving quality, and eliminating waste and unnecessary production stops. To monitor production performance, gain insight into quality and processes, and perform maintenance in a timely manner, it is advisable to use a good digital platform. EZ-GO is a good example of such a platform. By implementing digital instructions, step-by-step plans, and the ability to note abnormalities directly, quality will improve. Accordingly, downtime will be minimized as much as possible. A strong start for smart manufacturing! Want to know more about these first steps? Our smart production experts are happy to share their advice with you!