Smart Machines & Factories

Within just a few years, KNOLL optimised production from A to Z – carefully and deliberately, step by step. Smart Machines & Factories reports.

The recent Smart Machines & Factories 4IR survey, supported by GAMBICA and EEF, and sponsored by Festo GB, highlights that some manufacturers are already grasping 4IR opportunities, but others are still to take their first steps on their journey.

According to research from Barclays Corporate Banking, over half of manufacturers are reporting improved productivity thanks to the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies. Despite this, two thirds state that they are yet to experience a return on investment (ROI). Lee Sullivan, regional sales manager at industrial software provider COPA-DATA UK, explains the steps manufacturers can take to boost ROI.

Contradictory to the common belief that technology necessary for Industry 4.0 is expensive, the Combine and Conquer report by Accenture found that combining technologies such as AR/VR, big data and machine learning can save large businesses an average of £60,000 per employee. Nick Boughton, sales manager at industrial systems integrator, Boulting Technology, explores the growing trend of plug and play technologies.

Sean Robinson, service leader at industrial analytics platform supplier Novotek UK & Ireland, explains how plant managers can make proactive maintenance even more effective with machine learning.

As a global automotive and industrial supplier, Schaeffler is digitally transforming its entire business, which involves the integration of its mechatronics components, systems and machines into the rapidly expanding world of the ‘Internet of Things’. Through its Machine Tool 4.0 project, Schaeffler wants to demonstrate that Industry 4.0 is not an abstract, remote vision, but can make a contribution to added-value today. Smart Machines & Factories reports.

Dividing up video games, fighting over who keeps the Netflix account and arranging joint custody of the dog. Breakups require delicate negotiation. Magnify to Brexit level and you can understand why negotiating who gets to be involved in space contracts is causing trouble. Here, Mark Sewell, CIO of leading Microsoft recruitment partner, Curo Talent explains why it’s vital for the UK to keep up with the space race post-Brexit.

Valuable manufacturing production line downtime in the pharmaceutical industry can be reduced by ensuring Industry 4.0 machine predictive maintenance of tablet making machinery. Smart Machines & Factories takes alook at HARTING’s MICA industrial computing platform.

In line with the digitalisation of manufacturing lines, warehouses too are becoming more advanced. The traditional, manual process can be challenging for warehouse operatives and is prone to error. By adding digital solutions and intuitive User Interfaces, cognitive load can be reduced from staff and an audit trail can be used to track stock’s movement. Tom Blockley, user experience (UX) designer at EU Automation, shares his visions for spare parts warehousing.

Primary Engineer Programmes are taking great strides in helping to grow future engineers and ultimately tapping into the inner-engineer of pupils, the aim – to encourage more students to follow a career in engineering. Susan Scurlock, CEO and Founder of Primary Engineer gives readers an update on how the Primary Engineer programme has developed.

IoT, robotics and machine learning set to transform the supply chain, suggests research by Inmarsat. Smart Machines & Factories reports.

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) has been described as the fourth industrial revolution. Like steam, the production line and information technology before it, the convergence of cyber and physical systems has the ability to utterly transform how factories operate. Jon Hill, business development director (pictured) , reports.