Industry 4.0 technologies will increasingly be incorporated into the design of factories of the future. Digitalisation, intelligent automation and ‘smartisation’ will allow these factories to operate more sustainably, productively and cost-effectively.
Raymond Obermeyer, managing director of SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa, explains that Industry 4.0 includes all the opportunities for digitally networked production. It means that networked and centrally controlled machinery and components can make decentralised, independent decisions.
“Industrial production strategies have traditionally been based on central and hierarchical control entities,” he says. “Industry 4.0 technologies, including the IIoT, are changing this by allowing machines, components and workpieces to be smart with the ability to self-organise.”
Describing smartisation as the fusion of conventional physical products with cutting-edge information technology, Obermeyer points out that once things are smart and digital the possibilities are endless: “Networking and machine-to-machine communication becomes possible, as do autonomous and decentralised control mechanisms, the intelligent use of big value data streams, and even services like maintenance and monitoring.”
For Industry 4.0 technologies to work effectively, however, will require shifting the value creation process towards software engineering, the digitalisation of machines and a comprehensive decentralisation of all processes.
“For the most part, the technologies for Industry 4.0 already exist with computer-integrated manufacturing and lean production systems resulting in more efficient and more reliable systems,” adds Obermeyer. “The challenge, however, is how to network and combine these proven technologies into new autonomous systems that use data and intelligent analysis programmes to enable predictions of how technical processes can be made more reliable, efficient and even failsafe.”
Industry 4.0 technologies are nothing new to SEW-EURODRIVE. The company’s factory in Graben-Neudorf in Germany is a showcase of Industry 4.0 technologies, intelligently networking people, things, processes, services and data.
“Our Graben-Neudorf factory is part of our vision to shape the factory of tomorrow,” explains Obermeyer. “It is a factory characterised by system solutions for Industry 4.0 which intelligently link mobile robots and assistance systems, in the process supporting employees, raising productivity and implementing smart maintenance.”
Many of these same technologies, he reveals, are being implemented in SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa’s new R200 million headquarters based in Aeroton, Johannesburg. The high-tech facility is key to the company’s aim of ever more efficiently servicing customers both in South Africa and on the African continent. The company will be using these same lessons and technologies to help customers develop their own factories and manufacturing facilities of the future incorporating state-of-the-art Industry 4.0 technologies.
“In our opinion conventional industry boundaries will increasingly be blurred by the digitalisation of processes and disruptive technologies,” concludes Obermeyer. “As a result, businesses need to plan for and incorporate these technologies in order to remain competitive. Get it right and not only will businesses be more sustainable, but they will have optimised their value creation processes.”
Even in autonomous systems, human insight is important Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
As AI, IIoT and digital twins reshape industrial operations, Schneider Electric’s Kobus Vermeulen and Bafana Msibi argue that the operator’s role is shifting from controlling equipment to interpreting intelligence, validating AI recommendations and making decisions that improve
Read more...AI-based quality inspection scales across P&G operations Siemens South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Siemens and Procter & Gamble are expanding an AI-based visual inspection system across P&G’s manufacturing operations worldwide, inspecting products in real time at full line speed, and reducing scrap rates by 10 to 20% depending on the product.
Read more...How sustainability unlocks real business impact Rockwell Automation
IT in Manufacturing
Sustainability has moved from a compliance obligation to a strategic driver of resilience and value for manufacturers. Rockwell Automation explains how its Triple A framework and connected-data approach help producers cut energy, water and waste while improving productivity.
Read more...Mining’s AI future will depend on people as well as technology
IT in Manufacturing
South Africa’s mining industry is embracing digitalisation and AI, but AvenirHoldings chief executive officer, Tshidi Mndzebele says the real test is whether the people behind the industry are equipped to move forward with it, and outlines five things mining needs to get right.
Read more...How BIC overcame operational silos to integrate technology and people Rockwell Automation
IT in Manufacturing
Manufacturing giant BIC deployed Plex MES from Rockwell Automation at its Bizerte plant in Tunisia, replacing fragmented, partly in-house software with a single cloud-based execution system that broke operational silos and improved shop-floor visibility.
Read more...SEW-EURODRIVE’s expanded local engineering capability SEW-EURODRIVE
Editor's Choice Motion Control & Drives
At Electra Mining Africa, SEW-EURODRIVE demonstrated how its expanded local engineering capability, digital technologies and lifecycle support strategy help customers improve reliability, energy efficiency and total cost of ownership across the full life of their drive assets.
Read more...AI in industry is an early warning system, not a guarantee Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Schneider Electric’s Paul Steyn argues that AI in industrial maintenance is only as good as the infrastructure and people behind it, and explains the three layers a facility needs before predictive maintenance can deliver on its promise.
Read more...SA’s mining industry must put people at the heart of its digital future
IT in Manufacturing
South Africa’s mining industry employs around 470 000 people while its digital transition accelerates. Avenir’s chief executive officer, Tshidi Mndzebele argues that technology should enable and upskill the workforce rather than replace it, setting out five ways mining can make technology work for its people.
Read more...Quality control supports efficient tissue production Valmet South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Valmet’s advanced quality control technology is helping tissue producers improve product consistency while reducing energy and raw material consumption. Its latest installation at KORO Paper in Vietnam combines real-time measurement, process optimisation and non-contact, nuclear-free quality control.
Read more...Patented algorithm maximises operator efficiency Rockwell Automation
IT in Manufacturing
Rockwell Automation piloted a patented anomaly detection algorithm and FactoryTalk DataMosaix at its Twinsburg electronics plant, giving operators 30 to 60 days’ advance warning of stencil failure, improving fail rates by 22% and achieving a 200% return on investment.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.
printer friendly version