How Smart Machine Solutions Help OEMs Deliver More Value

smart machine solutions

With workforce shortages, unplanned downtime, and ever-increasing demand, building safe, productive machines in a timely fashion is more difficult than ever. But while today’s manufacturing environment is challenging, there have never been more efficient ways for OEMs to provide value for their customers. To help you turn challenges into opportunities, here are the ways OEMs can use smart machines to create more value for their customers and themselves.

 
SMART MACHINES HELP BRIDGE YOUR SKILLS GAPS

According to Rockwell Automation’s 2024 State of Smart Manufacturing Report, lack of skilled workforce is the number one reason manufacturers say they will struggle to outpace the competition. It’s true for most U.S. companies, as 70% of corporate leaders believe there is a lack of skills that is negatively affecting business performance.

How can you reduce your skills gap to gain a competitive edge? Smart technology like collaborative robots and augmented reality can help overcome workforce shortages in a couple ways. First, they allow OEMs to design machines that are easier to build, deploy and maintain. Second, they simplify training through easier deployed solutions. Augmented reality software like Vuforia Expert Capture can simplify employee onboarding by showing workers instructions in real-time as they perform tasks. Simply put, smart machine solutions can help you:

  • Close skills gaps using technology
  • Overcome workforce shortages
  • Develop a training program for your workforce
  • Simplify training through easier-deployed solutions
  • Design machines that are easier to build, deploy and maintain
SMART MACHINES IMPROVE MACHINE PRODUCTIVITY, FLEXIBILITY & RELIABILITY

Building more productive, reliable machines for your customers means more profit for your business. Do you know how to improve the speed, accuracy and consistency of your machines? By automating processes that would otherwise be done by a human, you remove human error from the equation. Plus, machines don’t get sick and injured or need breaks.

Smart machine solutions, using Independent Cart Technology for example, build more flexibility into machines and reduce machine footprint, which helps manufacturers improve production and more efficiently utilize their workspace. The result is reduced bottlenecks, downtime and energy consumption with increased customization, throughput and trackability of individual components.

Overall, smart machines help you:

  • Improve overall equipment effectiveness for your customers
  • Provide greater flexibility and scalability
  • Meet customers’ timelines to reduce their downtime
  • Increase quality and throughput
SMART DEVICES IMPROVE PLANT FLOOR SAFETY

Using collaborative robots and smart devices like safety sensors, timers, relays, etc. to build safer machines is the best way to improve plant floor safety for you and your end-user customers. Smart machines and devices remove workers from dull, dirty and dangerous jobs so they can be deployed in more meaningful roles.

Smart machines can even be safer to work around than humans. For example, collaborative robots can stop performing functions faster than humans, as they can stop at the slightest bump. In a scenario with industrial robots or moving parts that could be harmful to humans, Rockwell Automation’s presence-sensing safety devices can shut down operations when someone gets too close to a machine in motion and resume when they are safely out of the way again. The result:

  • Lower long-term safety costs
  • Reduced injuries and liability
  • Better job satisfaction
  • Improved workforce retention
CONNECTED DEVICES IMPROVE DECISION MAKING

With the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), devices, machines, plants and entire companies are more connected than ever before. Incorporating software solutions like FactoryTalk Twin Studio, Plex and Fiix allows users to diagnose problems before they occur and make quicker, more informed decisions.

Connected devices also allow manufacturers to scale more quickly and streamline processes. Using Software as a Service through a cloud-based solution for applications like FactoryTalk Hub, manufacturers can access real-time diagnostics, schedule predictive maintenance and make programming changes from anywhere in the world.

WHAT SMART MACHINE SOLUTIONS ARE YOU INTERESTED IN?

Do you think any of these solutions could help you build smarter machines and operate more efficiently? Let us know which solutions you are interested in, and one of our specialists will follow up with you shortly.

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