The main industry challenges are:
Higher product mix
The requirement for customization of consumer end-products will increase. The Batch size one vision of Industry 4.0 is to have the same cost for one or a million units produced. This will require new levels of Flexibility in production
System complexity
Production systems will become ever more complex and more and more production critical operations will depend on networked systems. The importance of managing configuration, software versioning and access control will be vital to maintain quality control and uptime in production
Human factors
The human factors will play an important role for the future. Assembly operators need to adopt the new technologies available to leverage the potential. To do that, systems must be user friendly and the vast amount of data created in the assembly process needs to be processed with the most important information presented to the operator
Sustainability
Sustainability focus will increase to a new level with plants powered by wind and solar. Environmental awareness will be higher and regulations enforced globally
Jump into Industry 4.0 with Atlas Copco
The biggest buzzword in recent years
Industry 4.0. Many manufacturers are trying to implement this concept in their facilities, but what does it actually mean? There are many interpretations of Industry 4.0, but at Atlas Copco, we view it as the integration of smart, connected assembly solutions that can leverage data to improve uptime, reduce defects, and enhance the overall operator experience.
To get to this Industry 4.0 vision, many assembly solutions are automated or semi-automated, with some form of human-machine interaction. For manufacturers looking to be more Industry 4.0-compliant, there are a few key steps they can take to start the journey. One great place to begin is with connected, intelligent tooling. Products like the Power Focus 8 controller for handheld tools or the PF6 Flex controller for automated systems provide the foundation for Industry 4.0.
These assembly systems offer several key benefits:
- error-proofing capability to ensure that every component assembled is done correctly, with immediate feedback provided to the operator if tightening occurs outside of established parameters
- generating and collecting data every time they complete a process, which can be communicated to higher level systems within a plant
- capability to integrate into more advanced manufacturing systems as a manufacturer progresses on the journey to Industry 4.0.
For more information on these assembly systems and other Industry 4.0 solutions from Atlas Copco, please don't hesitate to contact us.
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