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Smart Manufacturing

While hard work is a critical component of any successful enterprise, that’s not all there is to it. Working hard only gets you so far if you aren’t strategically allocating your resources to maximize your efforts. That’s where smart manufacturing comes into play.

Optimizing processes is a primary objective for many manufacturers and plants, and smart manufacturing can help attain that goal. By incorporating technology such as process analytics to gather and analyze big data, manufacturing enterprises can make intelligent, statistics-backed decisions to improve their bottom line. Pairing powerful computer technology and data analytics, smart manufacturing helps identify blind spots in the manufacturing and production process so that industrial enterprises can work more strategically. Additionally, smart manufacturing capitalizes on highly sophisticated technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning to automate and accelerate everyday processes to increase production and free up resources that may be better utilized elsewhere.

 

What is smart manufacturing?

Smart manufacturing is a manufacturing philosophy that relies on computers and other technologies to generate data that can help improve manufacturing processes. Rather than solely depending on humans to assess manufacturing performance and make decisions accordingly, smart manufacturing gives enterprises even greater insight into ways they can better core manufacturing processes. 

Not only does smart manufacturing technology gather important data, but it also analyzes it to determine whether or not current processes are cost-effective, reliable, and efficient. Software, equipment sensors, and automation are just some of the smart manufacturing tools that manufacturers can utilize to improve efficiency and reap the associated benefits.  

So, what exactly does smart manufacturing entail? There are plenty of methods that plants and manufacturers can use to gain data-driven insights to improve operations, including:

Machines and technology may not be able to replace human labor entirely. However, when paired with data-driven and hardworking employees, smart manufacturing technology can help enterprises implement more time- and cost-efficient measures to help enhance performance and increase profitability.

 

Why smart manufacturing matters

Modern-day technology is more powerful than the average person can even begin to conceptualize. Harnessing this power allows manufacturers to glean valuable insights that may otherwise go unnoticed, allowing enterprises to gain a deeper understanding of their operations and whether or not they are delivering optimal results. By incorporating process analytics, industrial enterprises can gather important data about their processes and identify ways to make improvements.

Smart manufacturing also capitalizes on machine learning and artificial intelligence to automate and optimize production, maintenance, and other routine processes. Utilizing such intelligent technologies allows the modern-day industrial plant or manufacturer to not only accelerate performance but also utilize data-driven insights to increase reliability. The result is a better end product, more satisfied customers, and increased returns on investment.

 

Suited for any industry

Virtually any industry can benefit from smart manufacturing, including but not limited to:

  • Power generation and distributing
  • Plastic and polymer production
  • Food and beverage manufacturing 
  • Oil and gas 
  • Wastewater treatment 
  • Metal and mining
  • Chemical production 
  • Pharmaceutical manufacturing
By using process analytics to analyze and optimize current manufacturing processes, industrial enterprises can make wiser decisions to increase efficiency, boost product quality, and maximize profit.

 

FAQs

What is meant by smart manufacturing?
Smart manufacturing involves using computers, software, and other technologies to gather and analyze big data in order to improve processes. While broad in scope, smart manufacturing can include process analytics — the gathering and analyzing data on equipment performance and manufacturing efficiency. Enterprises can then use this information to identify areas for improvement and tweak their processes accordingly. Additionally, smart manufacturing can automate certain processes for increased efficiency.

What skills are needed for smart manufacturing?
Because smart manufacturing relies so much on technology, enterprises do not have to worry too much about having the right skills for it to be successful. Process analytics software is a powerful technology that can gather and analyze data in order to determine where a business can improve, but it’s up to the business itself to implement such changes. Enterprises that use smart manufacturing must have a good understanding of data and be able to make decisions according to what the data shows.

What is the difference between smart industry and smart manufacturing?
“Smart manufacturing” is a broad term that is used across the globe to describe any sort of data-driven manufacturing process. On the other hand, “smart industry” is a more specific term that is used in certain countries as a synonym for “Industrial Internet of Things.”

What is the correct order of the asset lifecycle phases?
A smart factory is an accessible reality for any company that wants to utilize technology to increase productivity and revenue. By incorporating smart manufacturing methods into your day-to-day operations, you can harness the power of big data and automation to boost efficiency, work smarter, and cut down on unnecessary costs.