Today Automation is Basic Need of Manufacturing Industry
In this exclusive interview with Niloy from BIS, Jitendra Joshi | Senior Manager-Product Marketing | Factory Automation & Industrial Division | Mitsubishi Electric India Pvt. Ltd quotes that Mitsubishi Electric India product and solution cater to various Industry Automation needs. MEI know-how of core manufacturing Process and technology leadership makes us the most preferred partner for Industries like Automotive, Pharma, Water & Wastewater and many more. The veteran also highlights on the latest industry trends, insights and analysis on Automation for manufacturing processes. Edited Nub Below.
- How is automation changing the landscape of Manufacturing Processes?
Over the past two decades, automation in manufacturing has been transforming factory floors, the nature of manufacturing employment, and the economics of many manufacturing sectors. Today, we are on the cusp of a new automation era: rapid advances in robotics, IIoT, Artificial intelligence and machine learning are enabling machines to match or outperform humans in a range of work activities, including ones requiring cognitive capabilities.
- Technologies majorly complementing Automation in manufacturing Processes?
Mitsubishi Electric’s e-F@ctory utilizes cutting-edge control like iQ-R platform and high-speed networking technologies like CC-Link IE and CC-Link IE TSN to visualize information and coordinate with high-level Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) to improve production while reducing Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). In India, Mitsubishi Electric’s e-F@ctory provides Smart Manufacturing Solutions through its more than 20 Alliance Partners. Our “Edgecross” platform offers software development flexibility to the partners, so as to meet exact customer needs. e-F@ctory Alliance addresses the need of smart manufacturing for industries like Automotive, Pharma, F&B, among many others. Along with its e-F@ctory concept, for residential, commercial and industrial applications, Mitsubishi Electric has also developed Production Line Improvement Technology, a new technology for the efficient design of production floor layouts and material flows, as well as the accurate estimation of productivity using MAISART which is Mitsubishi Electric’s AI technology. It uses deep learning, big data analysis and reinforcement learning techniques to offer compact, product-based AI solution, and helps in creating smarter factories.
- How can Automation in manufacturing processes increase efficiency, drive down complexity and reduce time given average production time?
Industrial automation has ushered new ways that machines and human effort can collaborate to increase efficiency and drive down complexity. For a smart factory to be achievable, the real-time utilization of production shop floor data and efficient connectivity with IT systems are essential. With Mitsubishi Electric’s IIoT solution e-F@ctory, we offer seamless connectivity between shop floor and IT systems and analyse on a real-time basis with optimal efficiency. With continuously enhanced performance on a wide range of Factory Automation products, Mitsubishi Electric uses e-F@ctory to optimize all aspects of production and coordinate information between MES high-level information systems and production floors. The Edge computing component of e-F@ctory solution comprises of MELIPC (Industrial PC) and RDA, and, it ensures Analysis of the shop-floor data on real-time basis. The real-time feedback ensures immediate corrective actions and reduces losses.
- Key sectors & manufacturing companies of respective field opting for Automation in their production line or into other subsidiary manufacturing mechanisms?
Indian shop floors are going smart. Manufacturing, a typically labour-intensive process, is adopting technology to boost productivity and save costs. It is automating core processes to improve quality and stay competitive. The degree of automation, however, varies across sectors. Consumer goods makers have adopted Internet of Things (IoT) to track processes and deployed robots on the shop floor. Automakers are using augmented reality or virtual reality to train employees, especially those working on complex processes. In other sectors, production drawings are being replaced with handheld devices, reducing potential errors. Some manufacturers are using 3D printers.
- Gaining access to a new production model, cost and customers’ demands and requirements?
Today Automation is basic need of Manufacturing Industry. Changing customer demands in terms of quality, lead time and services is forcing manufacturing industries to opt for Automation.
Automation solutions available in the market are modular, it starts with basic level of automation and can go up to complex one in phases. Manufactures can go with a step-by-step approach to convert traditional equipment to automated one.
Mitsubishi Electric has wide range of products and solutions which can fulfil all types of Automation needs of a customer. India houses one of the Global R&D centres, and, with manufacturing set up in INDIA, we manufacture world-class entry level automation products which can take care of basic automation needs. Our global products range like iQ-F, iQ-R Series Controllers, MR-J5 Servos, FR Series Inverters and GOT HMIs can take care of all types of automation needs ranging from entry to complex level. With the introduction of entry level IIoT solutions like e-F@ctory Start-up package, Mitsubishi Electric is all set to provide affordable automation and IIoT solution to the manufacturing industry.
Mitsubishi Electric, with its strong Channel Partner network, rich pool of talent and domain expertise, can excellently partner with aspiring manufacturers for their automation needs.
- New models and services and solution emerging to attract and making Automation an awareness-doze for manufacturing clients?
Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is the next step in bringing together conventional and modern technologies in manufacturing. It is foreseen as the process of creating smart factories which consist of machines that are digitally connected, can learn from the large amount of data generated and make autonomous decisions. Technologies offered as a service are changing the perspective of manufacturing industries towards automation. The solutions available for precise and accurate manufacturing can reduce stress on the workforce and raw material wastage. In a nutshell, adoption of latest automation technologies and IIoT becomes imperative to increase competitiveness and build efficient value chains.
- Your expertise and doyen in this domain.
Automation is becoming an important part of all Indian industrial sectors on account of the rising efforts to make manufacturing processes more efficient, achieve zero defects and meet global quality standards. Factory Automation is becoming more and more digital with IIoT and with India being preferred destination for manufacturing, it becomes imperative to increase competitiveness and build an efficient value chain with our Products and Solutions.
With our product and solution, we cater to various Industry Automation needs. Our know-how of core manufacturing Process and technology leadership makes us most preferred partner for Industries like Automotive, Pharma, Water & Wastewater and many more.
Under the umbrella of out IIoT solution – e-F@ctory, our control layer solutions like iQ-F Series, Q and iQ-R Series controllers, HMIs, MR-J5- Series Servos, FR-Series Inverters take care of complex Machine and Process automation. HMI and SCADA platform offer 21 CFR Part 11 Compliant Monitoring solutions to Food and Pharma Industry. Robotics solutions add further value to the level of automation. While our Edge-Computing solution takes care of Data filtering, Real-time data analytics and feedback. The powerful networks like CC-Link IE and CC-Link IE TSN ensure seamless integration of IT and OT Data.
Advanced level of Visualisation, Data Logging, Big Data Analytics, Reporting, Augmented reality and Digital twin solutions are offered by Mitsubishi Electric ICONICS Platform.
Our Mistake Proofing solutions like Pick to Light, put to light, Analytical Solution Like iQ Monozukuri Vibration analysis, iQ Monozukuri ANDON are the key solutions designed for Automotive segment.
Traceability solution for Parts, Process genealogy and batch offers Key benefit to Automotive, Food and Pharma Industry.
With local manufacturing setup, R&D Capabilities, Wide Channel Partner network and rich pool of technology professionals, we offer an end-to-end solution to the Industry.
- Lastly, India as a market for Automation for Manufacturing applications and processes?
India aims and with this Covid-2019 scenario it reiterates to become a preferred manufacturing hub and be globally competitive. However, it is critical for the industries to be digitally transformed and be future-ready to manage the fast-changing business and technology landscape.
With the increasing buying power of Indians customers and so the increasing competition to provide the best quality and affordable products at a faster rate is the major driving factor for Automation in Manufacturing. The integration of technologies such as Robotics, AI, and Machine Learning is helping manufacturing firms reduce labour costs, eliminate human errors, and automate the entire process with improved lead times.
Increasing skilled resources demands to shift the routine and monotonous work to automated systems. One of the major factors driving the growth of the Industrial Automation Industry is to balance the asset decisions against longer-term needs to increase future flexibility. In manufacturing applications for non-critical assets, explore re-purposing where possible and right-sizing is necessary. Put more leverage on digital capabilities like e-F@ctory and online-workflow systems. Focus on Value Stream mapping by Elimination of Waste in the work process in terms of overproduction / reduce transportation / reduce defect / reduce inventory / reduce wait time etc. Finally, Build-In Quality, perfection & Consistency in the work process by every individual.
