Modern Developments in Industrial Automation

Industrial automation refers to the process in which a procedure or operation is conducted with minimal human assistance. Within the realm of manufacturing and production, industrial automation tools have revolutionized our capabilities, bringing advancements to efficiency and safety alike. As industrial automation continues to improve and develop in the modern era, it may be helpful to be fully aware of the types of automation that are presently used, as well as the types of systems that are implemented for manufacturing.

In general, the three types of automation that are commonly used in manufacturing include fixed automation, programmable automation, and flexible automation. Fixed automation is sometimes referred to as hard automation, characterized by processing operations that are fixed by the configuration of equipment. With such automation methods, commands are dictated by the hardware of the machine, including cams, wiring, gears, and other components that may not easily be interchanged from product to product. These systems often allow for a large volume of production with high rates, though the caveat is their high initial investment costs. Fixed automation has benefited a number of applications, including the automotive industry, various chemical processes, and automatic assembly machines.

Programmable automation is mostly used for manufacturing items in the form of batches, ranging anywhere from a few dozen to thousands. Unlike fixed automation, programmable automation allows for new rulesets and programming that caters to each batch of products and product types. Due to the need for reprogramming, there may be a changeover time that halts production, and production rates may be lower than their fixed automation counterparts. An example of programmable automation is the numerical-control machine tool, coded in computer memory to accommodate for various items and batches.

Flexible automation serves as an extension of programmable automation, utilizing the versatility of programmable automation while minimizing the amount of changeover time. To achieve this, flexible automation is only used for a select amount of production items, allowing for much quicker reprogramming and changeover of equipment. With such industrial automation tools, programming may be conducted from a computer terminal, rather than from the manufacturing equipment itself. This also allows for a mixture of production, removing the need for specific batches being produced one at a time.

Across all types, automated production lines minimize the amount of human labor by featuring workstations that are interconnected by a transfer system. Each station is in charge of carrying out a specific function or operation, thus allowing a product to be constructed one step at a time as it moves from station to station. To ensure that raw materials become a finalized product at the end of the assembly line, sequencing and coordination are critical. As computer technology and machinery improves, modern automated lines are being improved upon with programmable logic controllers and other systems that enable efficient operation. Due to their increasing capabilities, industrial automation tools are also beginning to extend into other industries, improving our capabilities across applications.

When it comes time to begin sourcing the industrial automation tools that you need for your operations, ASAP Industrials has you covered with everything you are searching for. ASAP Industrials is owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, and we can help you find the HVAC products, hydraulics, machinery, and other industrial tools that you are searching for, new or obsolete. As a premier supplier of parts for the industrial sector, we're always available and ready to help you find all the parts and equipment you need, 24/7x365. ASAP Semiconductor is an FAA AC 00-56B, AS9120B, and ISO 9001:2015 certified enterprise. For a quick and competitive quote, email us at sales@asapindustrials.com or call us at +1-714-705-4780.


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