Article | January 20, 2022
A smart factory that leverages Industry 4.0 concepts to elevate its operations has long been a model for other industries that are still figuring out how to travel the digital manufacturing route. Smart manufacturing technology is all you need to know if you're looking to cash in on this trend.
“Industry 4.0 is not really a revolution. It’s more of an evolution.”
– Christian Kubis
In this article, we'll look at the advantages that many smart factory pioneers are getting from their smart factories. In addition, we will look at the top smart factory examples and understand how they applied the Industry 4.0 idea and excelled in their smart manufacturing adoption.
Industry 4.0 Technology Benefits
Manufacturing Industry 4.0 has several benefits that can alter the operations of manufacturers. Beyond optimization and automation, smart manufacturing Industry 4.0 aims to uncover new business prospects and models by increasing the efficiency, speed, and customer focus of manufacturing and associated industries.
Key benefits of Manufacturing Industry 4.0 in production include:
Improved productivity and efficiency
Increased collaboration and knowledge sharing
Better agility and adaptability
Facilitates compliance
Improved customer experience
Reduced costs and increased profitability
Creates opportunities for innovation
Increased revenues
World Smart Factory Case Studies and Lessons to Be Learned
Schneider Electric, France SAS
Schneider Electric's le Vaudreuil plant is a prime example of a smart factory Industry 4.0, having been regarded as one of the most modern manufacturing facilities in the world, utilizing Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies on a large scale. The factory has included cutting-edge digital technology, such as the EcoStruxureTM Augmented Operator Advisor, which enables operators to use augmented reality to accelerate operation and maintenance, resulting in a 2–7% increase in productivity. EcoStruxureTM Resource Advisor's initial deployment saves up to 30% on energy and contributes to long-term improvement.
Johnson & Johnson DePuy Synthes, Ireland
DePuy Synthes' medical device manufacturing plant, which started in 1997, just underwent a multimillion-dollar makeover to better integrate digitalization and Industry 4.0 smart manufacturing. Johnson & Johnson made a big investment in the Internet of Things. By linking equipment, the factory used IoT technology to create digital representations of physical assets (referred to as “digital twins”). These digital twins resulted in sophisticated machine insights. As a result of these insights, the company was able to reduce operating expenditures while simultaneously reducing machine downtime.
Bosch, China
Bosch's Wuxi factory's digital transformation uses IIoT and big data. The company integrates its systems to keep track of the whole production process at its facilities. Embedding sensors in production machinery collects data on machine status and cycle time. When data is collected, complicated data analytics tools analyze it in real-time and alert workers to production bottlenecks. This strategy helps forecast equipment failures and allows the organization to arrange maintenance ahead of time. As a consequence, the manufacturer's equipment may run for longer.
The Tesla Gigafactory, Germany
According to Tesla, the Berlin Gigafactory is the world's most advanced high-volume electric vehicle production plant. On a 300-hectare facility in Grünheide, it produces batteries, powertrains, and cars, starting with the Model Y and Model 3. For Tesla, the goal is not merely to make a smart car, but also to construct a smart factory. The plant's photographs reveal an Industry 4.0 smart factory with solar panels on the roof, resulting in a more sustainable production method. On its official website, Tesla claimed to use cutting-edge casting methods and a highly efficient body shop to improve car safety. Tesla's relentless pursuit of manufacturing efficiency has allowed them to revolutionize the car industry.
Haier, China
The SmartFactoryKL was established to pave the way for the future's "intelligent factory." It is the world's first manufacturer-independent Industry 4.0 production facility, demonstrating the value of high-quality, flexible manufacturing and the effectiveness with which it can be deployed. The last four years, SmartFactoryKL has been guided by particular strategic objectives that drive innovation; the aim is to see artificial intelligence integrated into production. Two instances of AI-driven transformations include an "order-to-make' mass customization platform and a remote AI-enabled, intelligent service cloud platform that anticipates maintenance needs before they occur.
Final Words
Enabling smart manufacturing means using the latest technology to improve processes and products. The aforementioned smart factory examples are industry leaders and are thriving by implementing Industry 4.0 technology. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) may use these smart factory examples to learn about the adoption process, challenges, and solutions. Industry 4.0 is aimed at improving enterprises and minimizing human effort in general. So adopt the smart factory concept and be productive.
FAQ
What is the difference between a smart factory and a digital factory?
The digital factory enables the planning of factories using virtual reality and models, whereas the smart factory enables the operation and optimization of factories in real time.
Where does Industry 4.0 come from?
The term "Industry 4.0" was coined in Germany to represent data-driven, AI-powered, networked "smart factories" as the fourth industrial revolution's forerunner.
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Article | January 21, 2022
3D printing technology and its role in future manufacturing are grabbing the interest of industry experts. In terms of elevating future products, future additive manufacturing has a lot to offer the business. Additive manufacturing is developing and stretching its wings on a daily basis, becoming an integral part of every industry, including manufacturing, healthcare, education, and more.
In this article, we'll shed some light on the 3D printing future trends, which will assist the business in deepening its impact across industries. Furthermore, we will explore whether the additive manufacturing business is worth investing in as well as who the major players are that have already invested in the future of 3D printing.
Future Trends in the Additive Manufacturing Industry
Enhanced Machine Connectivity
Making AM solutions (including software and hardware) easier to integrate and connect to the factory floor is one of the key AM trends we predict to advance in the coming years. It has been a long time since the AM hardware market has been filled with closed, or proprietary, systems. These systems generally function with materials and software given or approved by the machine OEM and are not easily integrated with third-party alternatives.
Closed systems are important for process dependability, but they also restrict collaboration and connectivity. Companies expanding their AM operations will need to connect their machines and software to their production environments. When it comes to additive manufacturing, using siloed solutions is a surefire way to fail. Importantly, we see hardware manufacturers increasingly focusing on solutions that can be integrated with the production floor.
For example, a 3D printing market leader like Stratasys is a good illustration of the trend. In December, the business announced an extension of its previously closed machines' connection.Consumers may now integrate and control their additive production using software programs of their choosing, not just Stratasys' systems. For AM facilities, system connectivity is no longer an option. It's exciting to see the AM industry players recognize and solve this requirement.
AM and AI Continue to Converge
AM growth is incorporating AI and machine learning. AI can help with material development, machine setup, part design, and workflow automation. So, in the future, we anticipate seeing more AI and AM technology integration.
Combined with AM systems, AI will improve process control and accuracy. For example, Inkbit is currently working on an AI-powered polymer vision system. This technology can scan 3D printing layers and anticipate material behavior during printing.
Generative design, already generally recognized as a key digital advance in AM, may tremendously benefit from AI and machine learning.
It has so far been utilized to improve load routes when strength and stiffness are dominant. It can also be utilized to optimize thermal or vibration. AI and machine learning will advance generative design, allowing new concepts to be completely suited to AM.While we may be a few years away from fully developing the capacity to automatically adapt designs to process, we anticipate significant breakthroughs this year that will bring us closer.
AM Will Drive Decentralization
In order to future-proof their supply chains, many manufacturers are following new supply chain models and technology that allow them to cut prices or switch goods more easily. Increasing flexibility and agility will necessitate distributed, localized production, assisted by additive manufacturing.To reduce the number of steps required to manufacture complex metal or polymer structures, shorten lead times, and enable digital inventory management, digital inventory management can be automated. These advantages make it ideal for the distributed manufacturing model. We believe that in the near future, more businesses will actively explore distributed manufacturing with AM.
According to a recent HP survey, 59% of organizations are now considering hybrid models, while 52% are looking into localized digital manufacturing.
3D Printing Future: Major Predictions
In Jabil's 2021 3D printing trends survey of over 300 decision-makers, 62% of participants claim their organization is actively using additive manufacturing for production of their product components, up from 27% in 2017. Many such manufacturers are on the lookout for the latest additive manufacturing trends and forecasts. So let's begin.
Increasing Flexibility and Customization
Customized goods are a popular consumer trend, impacting several sectors. Rather than buying a mass-produced item, customers are increasingly demanding a custom-made item that meets their specific needs.
Additive manufacturing's low-volume production capabilities simply enable personalization and customization.
3D printing allows for more responsive design options, particularly for additive manufacturing. Manufacturers can afford to make smaller batches, allowing designers and engineers to alter product ideas and develop them cost-effectively when inspiration strikes, the public mood is understood, or customer feedback drops in.
Materials Drive the Future of Digital
As the additive manufacturing ecosystem grows, the importance of materials cannot be overstated. Besides high equipment costs, materials and limited additive manufacturing ecosystems have hindered the 3D printing industry's growth. The market is flooded with 3D printing materials, but few are advanced enough to fulfill industry standards.Due to volume constraints in most sectors, suppliers and manufacturers aren't motivated to develop innovative materials for new uses. However, the future of 3D printing is in engineered and application-specific materials.
Various sectors have unique difficulties that demand unique solutions. New designed materials will revolutionize new uses, including highly regulated sectors. Industries will reward those who can promptly introduce 3D printing materials adapted to specific industrial and engineering needs. This will allow more 3D printing applications to be supplied and the whole digital manufacturing flywheel to start spinning.
3D Printing and a Sustainable Future
Finally, additive manufacturing promotes sustainability and conservation. Besides decreasing trash, 3D printing saves energy. The Metal Powder Industries Federation studied the difference between making truck gear using subtractive manufacturing (17 steps) and additive manufacturing (6 steps).
3D printing uses less than half the energy it takes to produce the same product. 3D printing also reduces the need for moving products and materials, reducing the amount of carbon emitted into the environment. So we can see that digital and additive solutions already contribute to a more sustainable future.
Is Investment in the Future of Additive Manufacturing Worth It?
In recent years, there has been an explosion of investment in industrial 3D printing. Hundreds of millions of dollars have flowed into the industry in recent years, assisting new businesses. Desktop Metal ($160 million), Markforged ($82 million), and 3D Hubs ($18 million) have all received significant funding in the past. According to a recent report and data analysis, the global additive manufacturing market will hit USD 26.68 billion by 2027. A rising level of government support for additive manufacturing across regions is driving market demand.
For example, America Makes, the foremost national initiative in the US since 2012 dedicated to additive manufacturing (3D printing future technology), received USD 90 million in support from the government, commercial, and non-profit sectors. Given the industry's expenditures and the expanding need for 3D printing, investing in the additive manufacturing industry or 3D printing is certainly encouraged.
Final Words
Additive manufacturing is being used in practically every industry, and companies are researching how technology might be used in their specific fields. The numerous advantages and sustainability that 3D printing provides are the major benefits that manufacturers and other industry professionals notice with 3D printing.Future manufacturing will be significantly more accurate and simple to run thanks to 3D printing technologies. Considering the trends and projections listed above, you may have a better understanding of 3D printing's future and make an informed investment decision.
FAQ
What is the future of 3D printing?
3D printing, or additive manufacturing, has the potential to empower everything from food to coral reefs. 3D printers may soon be seen in homes, companies, disaster zones, and perhaps even outer space.
Why is 3D printing important to society?
3D printing results in waste reduction and so eliminates the need for periodic waste reduction, reuse, and recycling. So it helps society with no carbon footprint.
Why is it known as additive manufacturing?
The term "additive manufacturing" refers to the fact that the building process adds layers rather than removes raw materials.
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Article | January 31, 2022
Every industrial facility generates waste in some form or another. However, not all waste has to be physical; some can appear within the processes that occur throughout the manufacturing cycle. It is critical that you adopt strategies that enable you to generate less waste.
“Lean is a way of thinking, not a list of things to do.”
– Shigeo Shingo, a Japanese Industrial Engineer
Lean manufacturing is a method for optimizing and simplifying the way a company operates and interacts with its surroundings on a strategic level. Additionally, it is an efficient method of decreasing and managing existing waste within an organization.In this article, we'll look at the eight types of waste in lean manufacturing and the lean tools that may help reduce them and improve the precision and customer focus of your business operations.
How to Eliminate the 8 Types of Waste in Lean Manufacturing
Transport
Transport is a prominent example of lean manufacturing waste. It may be from machining to welding, or from a factory in China to an assembly line in America. This transportation adds no value to the product, does not alter it, and does not satisfy the customer. Transport waste may cause your firm to lose money rapidly; you must spend on material handling equipment, employees, training, safety precautions, additional space for material transportation, etc. Transportation requires strategic planning and logistical assistance to be lean and optimum. Transportation performance should be monitored routinely using analytical measures and KPIs.
For example, Toyota's Toyota Production System (TPS) has developed the tools and practices of Lean Manufacturing, and many of its suppliers are located near to their factories, which helps them reduce the transportation waste of their business. To start applying lean thinking to transportation management, you must first understand transportation expenses, which are divided into unit and productivity costs. Focus on long-term solutions that reduce overall mileage, trailer use, waiting times, and adherence to routing guides. Value stream mapping can help locate transportation waste. With value stream mapping, processes are documented and evaluated in terms of customer value. Any transportation that cannot be connected to value is reduced or eliminated.
Inventory
One of the main benefits of current Point of Sales (POS) and production technologies is that companies may produce things only when there is demand. Inventory waste is no longer an unavoidable issue. When this type of lean manufacturing waste occurs, it is usually the result of excessive production or a process breakdown. Order management and inventory monitoring solutions assist in decreasing inventory waste. Creating real-time inventory visibility and accuracy requires the use of a computer-based system, such as ERP software.
Additionally, it has been demonstrated that scanning barcodes significantly reduces errors associated with manual procedures. This type of solution offers a far more detailed and fast inventory tracking strategy. Moreover, an active cycle counting program is critical for a manufacturing company's inventory management to improve.
Movement/ Motion
Movement/motion waste is the unnecessary transport of objects. Motion waste, on the other hand, also refers to unnecessary human actions or movements. Motion waste is commonly caused by unoccupied or untidy workspaces. To address motion waste, lean practitioners invented the 5S method. It decreases workplace inefficiency and motion waste. Each of the five steps in the 5S technique begins with the letter S, which are:
Sort: Removing unnecessary material from each work area.
Set in Order: Set the goal of creating efficient work areas for each individual.
Shine: Maintaining a clean work area after each shift helps in identifying and resolving minor concerns.
Standardize: Documenting changes to make applications in other work areas more accessible.
Sustain: Repeat each stage for continuous improvement.
Waiting
Waiting time occurs when two interrelated processes are out of sync. This may include waiting for parts, instructions, labor, or repairs. Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) is a comprehensive approach that helps to eliminate waiting by reducing equipment downtime. It emphasizes empowering operators by assisting them in maintaining their own equipment. This method promotes shared accountability and increases the involvement of frontline workers.
Over-production
Overproduction happens when there is a surplus of goods produced. Overproduction is a major source of waste in the 8 wastes examples of lean. It is costly, reduces quality, and generates other wastes such as inventory and transportation. Kanban is another lean manufacturing approach designed to decrease overproduction waste. Kanban is a Japanese word that means “visual board”. As the name suggests, this approach initiates action based on visual clues. It is a "pull" method that addresses demand rather than anticipating it. Additional inventory is generated only when existing inventory is "pulled" from stock.
Over-processing
When simple processes are replaced by complex ones, this is known as over-processing. Excessive processing might entail the addition of features to products that buyers do not require. The employment of expensive equipment that isn't strictly necessary is another example of excessive processing. Value stream mapping may be quite beneficial for locating instances of excessive processing. It assists manufacturers in developing a sound action plan to leverage their available resources while also ensuring that materials and time are spent efficiently.
Defects
Defects in manufactured products are expensive to repair since the damaged product must be scrapped or re-made, interrupting the manufacturing process. Lean manufacturing approaches strive for a zero-defect output by recording problems, determining their causes, and adopting corrective action. There are several strategies for identifying and eliminating defect wastes; nevertheless, lean manufacturing seeks to prevent them from developing in the first place. This defect prevention is accomplished through a variety of techniques ranging from automation / Jidoka (machines with "human" intelligence that can detect when a non-standard event has occurred) to Pokayoke devices that detect if a product is defective, either preventing the process from running or highlighting the defect for action.
Implementing standard operating procedures (SOP) and training to guarantee that the proper processes are used and standards are fulfilled is, once again, the greatest solution for overcoming defective waste. Defects are an obvious waste. The cost of materials and labor utilized to create a product gets wasted. The waste from faulty products is aggravated by returns, lost goodwill, and wasted customer support activities.
Untapped Talent
Employees are the most significant resource in any organization. The lean waste of untapped talent is just what it sounds like: not leveraging your precious resource, your personnel, effectively or at all. This produces waste by leaving value on the table that your workers may provide through unrecognized abilities or talents. Recognizing and utilizing your team's abilities, expertise, and talents is critical to business success. Employees are your most precious resources, and not fully using them wastes time and money. Inappropriate task assignments are one typical source of talent waste.
Additionally, unnecessary administrative chores, poor communication, ineffective leadership or teamwork, and inadequate training are further untapped talent lean wastes examples. The greatest method to reduce talent waste is to empower employees rather than micromanage them. Many unseen abilities and talents emerge when employees feel empowered, making it simpler to identify and develop accessible talent. Following are a few ideas that can be adapted to any workplace:
Refine training programs.
Set up process management checklists that allow for flexibility.
Create remote monitoring systems to reduce micromanagement.
Hold frequent team meetings so they may express their views and ask questions.
How Did Nike Benefit from Lean Manufacturing?
According to the company's FY10/11 Sustainable Business Performance Summary, the supply chain has run more effectively after adopting a lean strategy. They termed it "better manufacturing" as it eliminated wasted resources and time. As part of its sustainability mission, the study noted, the corporation attempted to remove waste, wasted time, and materials from its processes.
According to the survey,
Failure rates were 50% lower in contracted factories that used the lean strategy than in companies that did not.
It was shown that lead times for deliveries from lean manufacturing were on average 40% shorter.
Lean factories have also claimed gains in productivity of 10% to 20% and a 30% decrease in the time required for launching a new model.
Final Words
We've discussed the lean strategies to deal with the eight forms of waste in manufacturing. Identifying the lean manufacturing types of waste is critical for evaluating business loopholes and overcoming impediments to company growth.
Despite the industry’s transition journey from 1.0 to 4.0, many manufacturing professionals agree that lean manufacturing is still applicable today for running a business with the least amount of resources necessary to thrive. It is ideal for businesses looking to stay ahead of emerging industry trends, such as new technology and associated workforce shifts. By using Lean concepts, technologies, and digital operations, businesses may increase their agility and customer focus.
FAQ
How is lean different from Six Sigma?
Lean aims to reduce waste, speed up operations, and improve flow. Six Sigma lowers variation and lean decreases waste. Six Sigma targets 3.4 defects per million opportunities, whereas lean emphasizes speed.
What are the five principles of lean manufacturing?
According to Womack and Jones, there are five key lean principles: value, value stream, flow, pull, and perfection.
What is the objective of lean manufacturing?
Companies looking for ways to enhance efficiency and reduce waste should adopt lean thinking. The ultimate objective of lean manufacturing is to manufacture excellent goods that satisfy customers while using minimal resources.
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Article | February 22, 2022
The integration of cutting-edge technologies into the manufacturing industry has transformed the whole economy and accelerated the pace of all operations. Cloud computing for manufacturing is a type of technology that enables businesses to gain visibility, scalability, mobility, security, and improved collaboration, among other benefits. Seeing the benefits, many small and large players in the manufacturing business have embraced cloud computing.
“Cloud computing is not only the future of computing, but the present and the entire past of computing.”
– Larry Ellison, co-founder, executive chairman, CTO, and former CEO of Oracle Corporation.
According to IDC research, the manufacturing industry is the biggest player in cloud computing solutions, with an estimated spending of $19 billion. Additionally, Market Research Future projects that the cloud manufacturing market will reach a value of USD 121.72 billion by 2026. As a result, we may predict that manufacturing cloud computing has a long way to go in the industry.
In this article, we will look at some of the key cloud manufacturing applications and case studies of three US-based manufacturing businesses that used manufacturing cloud software ERP.
Applications for Manufacturing Cloud Computing
Effective Marketing
Cloud technology's comprehensive nature makes it an ideal solution for the challenges of marketing campaigns. Manufacturers leverage cloud-based applications to help them plan, execute, and manage marketing initiatives. Manufacturers can also look at production and sales data to see how well their campaign is working.
Product Planning and Development
Product planning and development are closely linked in manufacturing. Manufacturers can get their businesses ready for full production by integrating product planning and development information with supply chain data and communications. Comprehensive integration enables products to move a lot faster from notion to engineering, from prototype to small-scale production, and eventually to full-scale production and shipping.
Production and Stock Tracking
Once production begins, cloud technology may assist in the manufacturing and stock management of products. Businesses can use enterprise resource planning (ERP) software to match production levels to available inventory and sales. Pricing quotations, order intake, and client requests can all be managed using the ERP software. Using a standard product to keep an eye on these things reduces the time it takes to get an order.
Productivity Management
Manufacturers rarely maintain the same level of production throughout the year for all products. They can use cloud-based tools to keep track of when to modify production to meet changing market demands. These software solutions ensure that manufacturers have the necessary raw materials on hand by making communication easier across the supply chain. This helps them easily adjust their orders to accommodate future productivity levels.
Three Case Studies of Cloud Computing in Manufacturing
Ralco Industries Leveraged Cloud to Cut Its Inventory by 15%
Ralco Industries is a producer and supplier of automotive components that specializes in precision-welded assembly and prototypes. To overcome the challenges of their business growth, the industrialists moved to manufacturing software cloud ERP and saved some money in the process. There was a lot of inefficiency, quality issues, excessive expediting prices, and wasted time due to inaccurate inventory and many unconnected systems in the past. Moving to a single integrated cloud ERP software system helped Ralco cut inventory on hand by 15%, scrap by more than 60%. It helped Ralco save money on premium freight by more than 20% and save almost $100 on each purchase order that was processed.
Avon Gear Improved Inventory Accuracy and Grew by 20% Yearly
Avon Gear Company, a maker of precision-machined components and subassemblies for heavy industrial equipment, was looking for an ERP system that would integrate data across the organization. The company chose a cloud-based manufacturing ERP to manage and record production activity, inventory status changes, receiving, shipping, and other plant-floor data. Consequently, Avon Gear's inventory accuracy has increased, and the company's growth rate has gone up by an average of 20% each year.
Wolverine Improved First-pass Quality by 15-20% Using Cloud
An automobile brake system technology firm, Wolverine Advanced Materials, found that its manual methods were not sustainable, especially when it came to supporting fast development. To grow and embrace lean manufacturing, the firm chose cloud ERP, which enabled it to properly assess cost and profitability by part. Using manufacturing cloud software, ERP, the company's factory floor workers can see all client orders and conveniently categorize them by material so that they can better manage their schedules. This has resulted in increased production and cost savings for Wolverine. Also, overtime was cut by 60%, while first-pass quality increased by 15% to 20%.
Final Word
For manufacturers, cloud computing is a game changer. Manufacturing companies must deal with a lot of different sites and supply chains, which requires the use of large, complex database applications.
The Cloud computing for manufacturing is expediting industrial operations and overall business decisions in the manufacturing industry. Cloud computing enables industrial organizations to improve visibility across large fleets of facilities. It also contributes to standardization by synchronizing and supplying data for new forms of analytics. Supply chain management becomes more effective and product development gets easier with cloud computing. So, instead of debating whether to use cloud computing, take action and use cloud computing in your business.
FAQ
What is cloud computing in manufacturing industry?
Cloud computing refers to the on-demand provision of IT resources over the internet. Instead of buying, running, and maintaining physical data centers and servers, you can use a cloud service. This approach would help you get computing power, storage, and databases when you need them, rather than buying and running your own.
How does cloud computing help the manufacturing industry?
Cloud-based solutions are more rapidly deployed than traditional systems, which enables firms to stay current with new innovations. Also, they are easier to change and grow, and they have the potential to make resellers more likely to use them.
Why cloud computing vital to modern manufacturing?
Cloud computing impacts all aspects of manufacturing. It enables manufacturers to see and control all manufacturing data and take informed production decisions. This is the reason why it is vital to modern manufacturing.
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