Smart industry a hype?

The Smart Factory is a factory with a high degree of automation with the aim of producing in a sustainable, efficient and cost-saving way. A great initiative and a noble goal! After the introduction, the emphasis was mainly on developing visions, writing reports and drawing up action agendas. A lot of talk but little action. It is time to make Smart Industry a reality.

In the Smart Factory, the latest technological developments are used in the field of advanced software, robotics, smart sensors, Augmented Reality, digital field networks and data historians. As an end user, do I need to immerse myself in these developments? “No,” says Mr van Dalen, general manager at Beenen BV, “companies should look for a system integrator. They can look at which technological developments could be applicable to your situation. Each situation requires its own approach and one or more developments can help. Smart sensors can help extract more data from your machines, enabling more efficient and cost-saving maintenance. When the machine generates a lot of data, systems are needed that can process and analyse the Big Data.” Many of these developments come together in the MES/MOMS system. These are systems used to control the factory. Based on information from the ERP systems, orders are distributed over the lines in the factory. Recipes are managed and schedules are executed. By creating relationships between the data flows, even smarter and better decisions can be made. Decisions that are calculated on the basis of historical data.

Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality (AR) is a technology from which Van Dalen has great expectations. “I see two important applications for the industry. An operator no longer needs to sit in the control room all day to monitor the process. He can use his AR glasses to see the live status of the factory. He can hear and see everything in the factory while the information from a tank or pump is also projected in real-time. The second application is in service. With AR glasses, a less skilled employee can solve a complicated problem. Step by step, information is projected onto, for example, a control cabinet. The employee can then perform each action exactly as it is shown and correct the fault.” One example of AR glasses is Microsoft’s HoloLens.

No, Smart Industry is definitely not a hype! It is a necessary investment in order to survive in a competitive market.

This article also appeared recently in the magazine ‘Het Ondernemersbelang’