Category: Automation
Finding New Value in Automation: Redesigning Processes
Automation has been a driving force in production and manufacturing over the past few years. Automation and control engineers are becoming more and more valuable as improvements in manufacturing become more necessary to keep up with technology. Automation can bring great value to companies and improve production quality and efficiency. Companies need to evaluate how automation can improve their business and give the company a step up in competing with other manufactures.
Continue reading “Finding New Value in Automation: Redesigning Processes”
Maximum Efficiency in Gear Motors for Automated Control Systems
In today’s world of industrial automation solutions, efficiency is one of the most heavily scrutinized aspects of automated control systems. Any part of an assembly line that is not operating at its maximum efficiency is going to end up costing more money in an energy analysis. In such an analysis, the energy usage of the components becomes the area with the most emphasis.
Gearboxes and motors are some of the principal components in plants where conveyor belts and assembly lines are integral parts of the production process. When it comes to efficiency with gears, it’s all about how the teeth of the gears are interacting. Friction and vibrations are going to be the root cause of most energy losses, and even with lubrication and dampers, the joints are going to get worn out over time. Although maintenance is inevitable, the energy cost of the system over its lifetime is going to be the determinant of the viability of any specific gear.
Continue reading “Maximum Efficiency in Gear Motors for Automated Control Systems”
6 Ways to Improve Profits with Control Engineering
Control engineers are capable of boosting productivity, profit, quality of products, and overall plant safety. A key aspect to the success of effective control engineering design is exploring sensible controls early in a project’s design. Creative ideas are a pivotal point when designing a control system and are crucial to the operation of any manufacturing project.
Continue reading “6 Ways to Improve Profits with Control Engineering”
Simple Tips to Reduce Risk on Automation Projects
Some projects seem straightforward and simple in the beginning; more often than not, problems arise that were never considered and end up costing a big chunk of precious time and money. Delays can be avoided by just taking a few steps to minimize risk and increase productivity. In this article we are going to take a look at how uncertainties can derail a project and how to reduce damage to your company’s timeline and budget.
Continue reading “Simple Tips to Reduce Risk on Automation Projects”
Automation Solutions: Six Sigma and Quality Control
If you trace the demand for automation solutions back to the source, you’ll find the same pressures and economic pitfalls that affect manufacturing across diverse industries. The difference? How companies adapt and grow in response to a challenging market.
Continue reading “Automation Solutions: Six Sigma and Quality Control”
Automation Solutions: 3 Ways to Defeat Choice Paralysis
“Learning to choose is hard. Learning to choose well is harder. And learning to choose well in a world of unlimited possibilities is harder still, perhaps too hard.”
― Barry Schwartz, The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less
In today’s industries, manufacturers have an entire constellation of technology solutions to consider. Factories can be digitized from beginning to end, integrated into automation systems, connected to the cloud, measured by big data, mobilized and networked into the Internet of Things.
With so much technology available, many manufacturers are paralyzed by the paradox of choice: the more industrial solutions appear, the harder it is to know what will work and what just isn’t right for your business.
How can you emerge from the swamp of indecision and implement the automation solutions that will boost your business?
Continue reading “Automation Solutions: 3 Ways to Defeat Choice Paralysis”
Your Best Resource: The Automation Team
What’s at the heart of your manufacturing process?
Many people would answer that question by pointing to experience or a particular success; some may even emphasize the type or brand of equipment their facility uses. Those elements are important, but what must every manufacturing business have to succeed?