In this ever-growing consumer-focussed business world, it is obvious for companies and production houses to look for automation systems. However, the shift from manual to automated production lines is a lot easier said than done. Thanks to a myriad of challenges posed up by the automation infrastructure and applications.
This article deals with some of the most common of these issues pertaining to the automation industry. And likewise, it also offers a few solutions to these problems. So without any further ado, let’s begin.
Privacy and Utility Concerns
Automation technology uses a number of IT technologies in synchronous order. For instance, a simple garment manufacturing business would require sorting, inserting, weaving, and sewing machines placed in production to work in their chronological order. Besides, there is a dependency on the accuracy of the system for maintaining the quality of the end product. And all of these tasks are done with the help of an intrinsic LAN. It needs no saying that where there is the internet, there are concerns for the privacy of the users. And therefore, a rigid firewall network is one of the basic necessities that automation systems need to comply with.
Security Concerns for Data
Apart from the concerns for user privacy, data thefts are also one of the most common issues. Simply think of a huge company network as a tremendous amount of money in the form of datasheets and production values. If anyone could get their hands on this data, the outcomes could be devastating. To keep a check on the data breach, a simple and effective data security system such as a 32-bit or 64-bit passcode could be used. And thankfully, only authorized personnel can access this data, along with others whom the authority is granted.
Continuous Power Supply
When the production of a unit is highly dependent on the flow of information and that too electronically, there are no chances to be taken with the electrical supplies. Essentially, this electrical power is not only important for communication but also for operating the machinery. Experts from https://www.utilityservice.net/ explain that regular maintenance of the grids and in-house transformers can help avoid unnecessary breakdowns. And as a result, the unnecessary downtime due to power loss could be avoided.
Resistance from the Workforce
Another huge concern for the companies considering automation as an option is the resistance faced by its workforce. It is evident that choosing automation upgrades will lead to layoffs from the existing workforce, which although beneficial to the company, is definitely not in favor of their loyal employees. The companies need to overcome this challenge by carefully optimizing between the layoffs and the integration process, so as to ensure maximum employee retention.
Choosing the Right Technology
The sum of all of the problems and the solution to it lies in the choice of technology. In other words, the type of automation technology would decide the overall success of the new upgrades for the company. The evaluation would include a lot of factors such as the cost of technology and training, reduction in the headcount, and improvements in the production. After all, if there are no or little returns on the investment, there’s no point going for automation in the company.
The automation industry has by far improved the quality and productivity of the production lines. However, there are still many issues that need to be addressed.
