What is a Smart Factory?

In recent years there has been a lot of talk about smart factories, that they will revolutionise your business, improve your profit margins and bring you into the modern era. But what actually is a smart factory? And what does it actually mean for you business?

A smart factory is a facility that utilises a range of modern technologies from AI to IIoT to identify pain points in operations and recommend areas for improvement. This helps to remove production bottlenecks and reduce human error from the factory floor, making your business an efficient, profitable machine.

Smart factories are generally built around these technologies:

Big Data

Smart technology allows you to collect data straight from your factory floor which can then be used to identify where your productions are being slowed down. Once you know where the weak links are, the data can then be interpreted to make the production line more efficient. This reduces costs and increases productivity making your business more profitable.

AI

Once you have the data in your hands, it needs to be interpreted properly. AI technology gives you the ability to model your business using data from the factory, giving you a bird’s eye view of production. This allows you to take a holistic approach to make your business as efficient as possible.

IIoT

In regard to smart manufacturing, IIoT refers to the interconnected devices that facilitate the exchange of data between the machines on the factory floor and the decision makers in the business. These instruments typically have built-in sensors that tap into the production machines and then deliver the data in real-time.

Cloud Technology

All of the data you extract needs adequate storage. Utilising cloud technologies allows businesses to store the large data sets that come from utilising smart technology, without the need for onsite servers. This gives your company greater flexibility, reduces costs and maximises the amount of floor space that can be used to make products. The accessibility of cloud technology also gives you the ability to make decisions in real-time, even if the decision maker is not actually on site.

Automation

Smart factories run on large amounts of automation to improve production. Automated processes not only speed up the manufacturing process, but they also reduce the potential for human error. This increases production time while also making accidents fewer and further between.

It is important to note that automation does not necessarily mean that you need to replace your workforce with machines. A good automation technology allows humans and machines to work in together using the specialised cognitive skills of humans and the efficient delivery of an automated process.

Smart technology gives you an entirely new appreciation of your business, which means that you are able to more effectively identify how to improve your production line and keep one step ahead of the competition.

To learn more about our smart manufacturing solutions, click here