Today, most industrial processes have been automated. This fact started a few years ago and nowadays, it is still in constant evolution.
In this blog, we tell you what process automation consists of, as well as its benefits and applications.
What is process automation?
Automation consists of using technology to carry out tasks in which the human being intervenes very little. There are numerous processes that can be automated, from the most basic or simple, such as daily or domestic processes, to more complex processes, such as industrial processes. In this case, we will focus on industrial automation. Industrial automation can be defined as the monitoring and control of machinery through various sensors and software.
Benefits of process automation
There are numerous benefits to using process automation, some of them are as follows:
Productivity and efficiency
The productivity and efficiency of the company is increased. This is due to the fact that the robotic equipment used has the capacity to work at high speed.
Production costs
Production costs are reduced. Because, by automating the processes, the output speed of the products is increased and therefore a greater number of items will be available for sale in a shorter time.
Safety
Operator safety is increased. By automating industrial processes, operators will no longer perform tasks that require physical or dangerous efforts.
Quality of products
The quality of the products is increased. This is due to the fact that a machine using computer vision systems is able to find more defects than a human being can perceive.
Disadvantages of process automation
Just as there are numerous benefits to process automation, there are also several drawbacks. Some of them are the following:
Investment cost
The initial investment cost is very high and this can result in many companies having to automate only some processes.
Staff
The staff needed to control process automation must be more specialized and may be more difficult to find and more expensive to hire.
Technology
When automating processes, it is necessary to know which ones will allow us to amortize the automation investment, since these processes require materials such as sensors or robots, which are expensive and, like all electronic devices, have a technological obsolescence.
Process automation applications
Process automation is currently found in many sectors. Normally, industrial processes are automated, such as the assembly of parts in the automotive, aeronautical, aviation, etc. sectors. Also in the textile sector or in the agricultural sector, the automation of various processes has been carried out. Moving a little away from the more mechanical processes that require more physical effort, processes that have to do with the collection of information or even with the treatment of said information have also been automated. From what has been previously commented, it can be deduced that the automation of processes is increasing considerably over the years and will continue to evolve, since there will always be processes that are repetitive or follow a pattern and, in this way, can be automated. .
Finally, it should be noted that process automation covers a large number of sectors and, as time goes by, this automation will be taken to more everyday processes, in addition to industrial processes. In recent years we are seeing how processes of everyday life are being automated, such as turning on the lights at home or a household appliance.
Do you want to carry out the automation of processes in any of your Projects? Contact us!
Related posts:
- Computer Vision in Automotive
- Detection of defects in agricultural products
- Logistics 4.0: Improving the efficiency of the logistics sector
- Robotics and automation in packaging
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