By Marshall Taylor
When it comes to manufacturing, “automation” and “AI” are buzzwords that get tossed around nearly as much as “quality” and “on-time delivery.” These are broad topics that sound cutting edge, but it begs the question, what are we really talking about? Some may say, “I thought all CNC machines are automated,” and you would be correct. We could consider any computer-controlled machine as being automated and basic macro programming as artificial intelligence. What most people are referring to though have vastly different definitions.
Typically, when we bring up automation in manufacturing it has to do with replacing manual human input with machines, software, or systems. This comes in many forms. The most obvious is adding some kind of machine tending capabilities to a CNC such as a robot, pallet loader, or bar feeder. It makes sense that manufacturers and integrators alike target these areas to automate because increasing the utilization of each machine spindle directly affects production capacity.
Another benefit of machine tending solutions is redirecting valuable human resources towards tasks that require higher intelligence and decision making. I have heard the skepticism that automation will take away manufacturing jobs. This couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, if American manufacturers fail to embrace automation and lean techniques, we have no chance of competing on a global scale. The other struggle that we are all aware of is the gap in the workforce. Taking advantage of automation systems that can perform simple tasks such as loading parts into a machine, with the ability to run 24/7, means we are not allocating our payroll into job positions that are dirty, dull, or dangerous. We can rationalize higher wages for positions that have much higher ROI such as engineering, programming, and automation technicians.
There are other areas where manufacturers benefit from automation aside from equipment. Leveraging software that streamlines quoting, quality, and order processing offers huge gains in productivity. They also improve the customer experience. We are all aware of AI but what does this mean for manufacturing? Sifting through non-essential emails to identify important information such as RFQ’s or purchase orders usually isn’t the best use of someone’s time. Exploiting simple tools to summarize emails and exporting key information into CRM is a great way to leverage this type of technology. Other promising uses that I am excited about expedites the quoting process. Taking the guesswork and tribal knowledge out of estimating allows manufacturers to return accurate pricing to the customer in a minimal amount of time. Likewise, advances in software that accelerate CAM programming are giant leaps in the machining world.
Why does this matter to you as the customer? Just like the previous industrial revolutions, Industry 4.0 brings new limits to what is capable of manufacturing. Speeds, processes, and designs that were unheard of merely a decade ago continue to flood the market and enhance our production capabilities in unprecedented ways. As these new technologies are refined and more widely adopted, they become cost effective for all suppliers to implement, not just to the goliaths of the industry. This means manufacturers have more options at their fingertips than ever before. They can, therefore, push the limits of what they can introduce into the market. These also allow suppliers to remain competitive in an ever-evolving world where time zones and continents are no longer a barrier to competition.
Marvel Manufacturing is committed to adapting advancements in automation and relaying those benefits to our customers. It is more than just the next machine purchase; it is a commitment to continual improvement in all areas of technology.
What do you think? Contact Marshall Taylor, marshall@marvelmanufacturing.net to discuss.
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