PLANT MANAGEMENT


Tim Bednall on smoothing the path to an automated future


EXPERTISE I


AUTOMATION


n today’s competitive world economy, it is essential that manufacturers are able to maintain the highest levels of productivity and quality if they are to satisfy the ever-increasing demands placed upon them from both their customers and the end consumers. T ese factors continue to drive the


ABOVE: Automation, when specifi ed and implemented correctly, will always deliver the benefi ts anticipated


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growth of automation and robotics across many diverse market sectors and applications. However, for those considering a new automation project, making the right decisions on exactly which parts and processes to automate and what type of automation is appropriate, is essential if the project is to be deemed


feasible from both a technical and fi nancial point of view. T ere are several factors that should be considered to ensure a smooth transition to a cost-eff ective and successful automation project. T ere is no doubt that the introduction


of robotics and automation has been instrumental in transforming manufacturing processes across a diverse range of industries. One need only look at the automotive sector to see automation at its best, with fl exible high-level automation systems operating continuously at impressive effi ciency rates. For companies that have already successfully introduced automation to existing manufacturing processes, the path


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