The impact of automation on leading industries globally has been widely discussed. As technology advances, many people have all kinds of opinions about things like job replacement and better products.
One thing that emerges from all these conversations is that measuring the past and future impacts of automation is not easy. Despite all the differing opinions, we can all agree that automation has revolutionized many industries. There is probably not a single sector that remains immune to the dynamics of automation and technological progress.
In this post, we will look at some of the impacts on key sectors.
The transformative power of automation in manufacturing
If there is one sector that has felt the impact of automation the most, it is the manufacturing sector. Many things have changed since the coronavirus pandemic, but the journey began many years ago. The sector has been undergoing transformation for decades, stimulated by the need to reduce costs and optimize processes.
However, the most notable changes have occurred over the last decade or so. Although automation has been around for over fifty years, the last 15 years have been transformative. The industry has focused heavily on lower operating costs and smaller machines.
Within the manufacturing industry, the automotive sector would be the best example of the transformative power of automation. This sector has been among the quickest to assimilate automation into production lines.
This is not surprising given the level of dynamism in this sector. Automation has brought unparalleled flexibility that has allowed automotive plants to thrive in challenging circumstances. It is still in this sector that we are witnessing a widespread application of industrial robots.
Automation in this sector has not stopped at the production processes; products (cars) also have their automation needs. Smart cars come with several automated features, including predictive emergency braking.
What we can say is that the manufacturing industry has benefited enormously from automation. Here are some of them:
- Better data collection and analysis
- Greater process efficiency
- Best quality products
- Greater security of activities
- Greater cost savings
Aerospace Advances Through Automation
Occasionally, the aerospace industry makes headlines for unfortunate events. One area that regularly emerges as the weak link is the automated segment. But it's all bad when it comes to automation and the aerospace industry?
There are many advances in the aerospace industry thanks to automation. As in the manufacturing sector in general, the aerospace industry is also experiencing an increase in demand for products. Product standards are constantly rising, putting pressure on the industry to improve automation.
Sophisticated mobile robots, non-destructive robotic testing and artificial intelligence are now common in aerospace factories.
Away from the manufacturing segment of the industry, other sectors also use automation extensively.
A perfect example is in the cockpit. To operate efficiently and safely, an increasing number of aircraft are using cockpit automation. This change has helped realize many benefits, including improved flight path control, increased passenger comfort, and relief for pilots from repetitive tasks.
Aerospace automation allows human effort to be concentrated on other human-oriented tasks. The good use of this technology guarantees that humans are left with the task of managing the technology (automation). It only increases the situational awareness of the human being.
Exploring automation in healthcare and other industries
Other industries that have benefited significantly from the capabilities of automation solutions include healthcare, logistics and energy.
The healthcare sector is one of the most dynamic and a great contribution to its transformations is automation. Thanks to innovations focused on automation, healthcare has managed to create a strong combination of advanced data analytics, robotic solutions and artificial intelligence. The most popular automation features are remote patient monitoring, telemedicine, inventory management, and appointment scheduling systems.
As we approach 2024, the influence of automation on the logistics and planning industry is expected to reach even higher levels. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are still the current transformative forces in the industry, but the options are broad. If you are in this business sector and have yet to optimize automation, there are many areas you could optimize using various approaches. Consider automating tasks like inventory management, transportation management, and order processing.
The energy industry has seen tremendous growth thanks to automation technologies, with a trajectory that is expected to continue for some years to come. As the industry goes through a critical transition phase, several challenges are driving the interventions that automation is presenting.
Some of the pressing issues facing the industry today are expensive infrastructure upgrades, higher maintenance costs, and downtime.
As a countermeasure, industry stakeholders can use automation in maintenance and safety improvement. Wind turbines and oil pipelines are increasingly opting for robots for system inspections. The expense and risk associated with manual maintenance is thus avoided.
Automation adoption: challenges and solutions
Pressure to remain profitable, intense competition and demand uncertainties are driving many companies to consider automation. However, the transition to industry 4.0 and 5.0 is not always easy.
Without a trusted partner to assist with the transition, many businesses are faced with a lack of clarity on exactly how to make the change. Frustration and eventual abandonment of the automation journey is a common story.
Other obstacles that companies need to think about include IT security, employee rigidity and lack of reliable data capture methods.
The reality is that while industrial automation is inevitable for businesses to remain relevant in the rapidly changing global landscape, this journey can be long and challenging. Implementing changes requires the support of experts with modern skills to create customized solutions.
Conclusions
Without a doubt, automation and growth of industries are intertwined. As the potential for increased automation is still high for most of these industries, areas for improvement need to be identified and action taken.
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