A big part of smart manufacturing is the ability to create flexible and reliable production lines. To achieve this, companies are beginning to work on modularization This allows the line configuration to be rearranged according to the immediate need. Manufacturers are working on automation to replace common tasks, such as transporting products, assembly lines, and work performed in difficult-to-access areas. Modular automation lets companies adjust quickly to production changes while using the same equipment for multiple products.
Design News interviewed Paul Bosnyak, application engineer at Oriental Motor USA on the benefits of modular automation.
On-the-Go Production
Festo has noted that conventional large-scale process systems have a central control system and are precisely designed to meet the defined requirements. This works well as long as the required production quantity and the product remain the same. If demand fluctuates or if smaller, more customized batches are required, adjustments can get extremely costly. Modular production with decentralized automation offers greater flexibility and cost-effectiveness. Each networked module of the system is a separate functional unit that operates autonomously and contains the complete control system.
Oriental Motors explains modular automation in this video: