FOCUS ON DIGITALISATION
A NETWORKED REALITY
“ The structure of a smart factory can include a combination of production , information and communication technologies , with the potential for integration across the entire manufacturing supply chain .”
The smart factory operates autonomously and can run diagnostics required to identify and repair any malfunctions , without having to halt the entire production line .
Today , sheet metal processors face numerous hurdles such as an increasing number of product variants and shorter order times . They therefore need a strategy to remain competitive in the future . Doing nothing is not an option . However , building on their strengths , the path to a connected factory is an undoubted opportunity . Digitising their machinery gives them greater control over production processes and increased competitive advantage .
“ Industry is facing major challenges . Customers are demanding new , individual , high-quality and inexpensive products in shorter and shorter periods of time . At the same time , goods must be manufactured from increasingly scarce resources , as sustainably as possible . To meet these requirements , research and business are turning to the digitalisation of manufacturing , in which the real and virtual worlds converge in an Internet of things , services and data ,” commented industrial research specialist , Fraunhofer- Gesellschaft
Here machines , workpieces , transport and goods are equipped with embedded systems i . e . tiny computers , sensors and actuators , and are connected with one another . This paves the way for the next revolution in manufacturing , Industry 4.0 .
The smart factory
Huge efficiency and cost savings can be made with networked production .
“ With intelligent production control , sheet metal manufacturers can plan more efficiently as well as process orders more quickly and use more automated processes . They can set up machines using automated processes and digitally manage both their stores and their tools . They can also benefit from realtime digital analysis and keep an eye on all information relevant to their production ,” explained sheet metal specialist , TRUMPF .
“ For every hour of processing time , approximately four hours of indirect operation are required . The consequence : as batch
The TRUMPF Smart Factory .
14 | sheetmetalplus . com | ISMR December 2021 / January 2022