⚙️ The 6 trends of industrial automation in 2024, from data analysis to sustainability
- Simone Zanon
- May 24, 2024
- 2 min read
How companies can prepare for more flexible and sustainable manufacturing according to Omron.
In recent years there have been major changes globally: companies have had to transform their production processes by adapting to sudden changes, making themselves more resilient. In addition to this, increasing customer demand in terms of #sustainability is moving companies toward ESG choices to optimize resources and reduce environmental impact.
To meet these challenges, companies will need to invest more in industrial automation in 2024, according to Omron. Indeed, automation can help improve productivity, efficiency and flexibility.
Let's look at the 6 trends that will drive innovation in this new year:
1. Data analysis for making sustainability-oriented decisions.
The pressing need to reduce the use of raw materials and electricity is leading companies to automate production more and more. Data analytics comes into play here: it is indeed an important tool for improving the sustainability of production processes. With IoT software that monitors, analyzes and captures certain data, companies can use this data to optimize production or make buildings more efficient, to achieve energy and resource savings, as well as to improve the quality and safety of products or services and reduce their ecological footprint.
2. Connecting OT and IT to optimize production costs.
To cope with rising production costs and the need for sustainable efficiency, companies need greater flexibility in production: this requires the connection between OT (Operational Technology) control systems and IT (Information Technology) systems. This connection enables companies to collect and analyze data in real time so that they can optimize production processes, making them faster and safer.
3. Supporting local-for-local production.
The problem of global supplies of raw materials in recent years has led to a rethinking of local production. Companies have begun to shift production from distant locations to places closer to their target markets. This trend is driven by the increasing volatility of supply chains and the need to reduce lead times, and more importantly it highlights a growing need for innovation and systems integration.
4. Customer experience: the customer at the center.
There is less and less emphasis on the product to give more importance to the experience for the customer. Customers, in fact, are more interested in looking for a solution that suits them and a thought-out service rather than a "system" or just a product.
5. Automated inspection for increased focus on safety.
Attention to safety is becoming increasingly relevant in a world where it only takes one mistake to undermine a brand's reputation. Automated inspection is an effective way to ensure product safety and quality: companies can use automated systems to detect defects and anomalies, even in small products, and thus assure the customer.
6. Artificial intelligence more present in automation.
Artificial intelligence in 2023 has made great strides, yet it has yet to be developed in industrial automation. In fact, AI can be used to automate complex tasks by making production more flexible and improving safety.
Industrial automation trends for 2024 suggest, therefore, that companies that wish to remain competitive and resilient will need to invest in automation.
Automation can concretely help in #digitization and #transition5.0, providing benefits and making companies better equipped to meet the challenges of the future.
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