The big challenges of heavy machinery and equipment industry
Offroad vehicles for the construction, forestry and agricultural sectors will gradually increase in complexity and demand as the population grows.
The heavy machinery and equipment manufacturing companies haven’t traditionally been the first to leap onto the train of digitalization.
One reason for the automation delay is the complexity of the assembly – heavy machinery and equipment factories are still run on predominantly manual processes for natural reasons.
The unconditional success factors are to collect and use data in innovative ways, analyzing this data and find new opportunities based on better decisions, consequently improving efficiency.
Smart manufacturing in a few words
Industry 4.0 may seem like a buzzword, and in a sense, it’s the mother of all buzzwords. It represents the new industrial revolution where the internet of things (IoT) and the resulting big data flow converge with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in order to make predictions and avoid errors. Add opportunities derived from augmented reality (AR) and additive manufacturing (AM), and the potential is remarkable, with lower costs, higher efficiency and fewer human errors in the process.
Naturally, the entire process doesn’t need to be fully automated using robotics to produce vast amounts of data that could be analysed and turned into business opportunities. Smart connected tools are a first step of moving into a data-driven assembly process.
The digital potential is huge.
A lot of companies already collect data but there are still doubts about what to do with this data. By using proper analytical software tools, a plant manager can know within seconds if an operation is below the desired standards. From the data, we can engage in proper training activities as well as providing the end-customer with detailed statistics over tightening quality in the assembly process.
The 3 advantages of smart manufacturing for the heavy machinery and equipment industry
The main cost-reducing effect of increasing connectivity in the heavy machinery and equipment industry is economics in its simplest form. By keeping track of all the smart tools and how they are used by their operators, managers can initiate pre-emptive measures for replacing tools before they break down.
Reducing down-time and improving quality in the production line are some of the most important demands from the manufacturers. By minimizing human errors and faulty tools, efficiency can increase significantly. This allows the producers to become more flexible in their process. The big data flows also provide an opportunity for building replica factories in other markets.
