UP FRONTA LETTER FROM THE EDITOR u A
Century, when men used rope and pul- leys to drive conveyor belts and steam powered the
utomation has been vital to manufacturing since at least the 19th
fi rst lifts. But today, automation expands beyond physical systems that help to automate work to include virtual sys- tems that can automate machining, measurement, analysis and decision-making in a closed-loop system that increas- ingly automates optimization itself. This cyber-physical shift is dramatically reshaping the shops and factories that make up our manufacturing ecosystem once again. Robots, of course, play a bigger role in this new world. And you can reasonably expect that nearly every year going forward will be a record one for robot sales in North America. What we’re really seeing here is the expansion of au- tomation—if not in defi nition, then at least in practice. The manufacturing of today and tomorrow aims to be virtually automatic, with the path from customer order to fi nal delivery increasingly free of human interaction in the actual manufac- turing environment. That’s not to say humans aren’t involved, with a lot of virtual planning and programming and creating
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AdvancedManufacturing.org | March 2016 Opportunities Abound for Our Automation Nation
the automation technology in the fi rst place. Any engineer or programmer would scoff at such a suggestion. But we’re increasingly seeing a manufacturing world where machines, tools and equipment make things on the plant fl oor and hu- mans are safely in control, more or less, on the outside. This is all made possible by a variety of affordable sen-
sors, Internet connectivity, quick data analytics tools and pro- gramming logic that allows machines, tools and equipment to talk to each other and make smart decisions themselves. This issue of ME gives more than a glimpse into these changing times. As Senior Editor James Lorincz writes in this month’s cover story, even high-mix, low-volume manufactur- ers can benefi t from automation. Metrology is a vital part of the feedback loop, too, as Bruce Morey writes in “Optical Metrology and Automation—a Natural Fit.” New systems pro- vide fast inspection that allows 100% of parts to be checked, which is increasingly the requirement. Finally, in Viewpoints, Pasi Kauhanen of Fastems writes about how automating a complex constellation of technologies is not only possible, but feasible, and elegant, with the right software.
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Although reasonable efforts are taken to ensure the accuracy of its published material, SME is not responsible for statements published in this magazine. Readers are advised that SME shall not be liable to any person or company for losses or damages incurred as a result of accepting any invitation or offer contained in any advertisement published in Manufacturing Engineering®. Copyright © 2016 by SME. Photocopy information: Users registered with the Copyright Clearance Center, 21 Congress St., Salem, MA 01970, can purchase copies at $2.00 each referring to serial fee code 0361-0853/88/$2.00. All other photocopying without the permission of SME is prohibited. Reprint information: For tearsheets, reprints, and bulk orders, write the Production Manager, kstebbins@sme. org. Available on microfi lm/microfi che from University Microfi lms International, 300 N. Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Canada Post Publication Mail Sales Agreement No. 1436813
Sarah A. Webster Editor in Chief
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