MAY - 20208 MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY INSIGHTSThe automotive industry is in constant flux, evolving rapidly in tandem with consumer preferences for the latest features and styles. With sustainability and climate change gaining more visibility than ever before, electric vehicles (EV) are rising in popularity and presence. We have arrived at a turning point: while electric vehicles made up just four percent of vehicles sold in 2017, Bloomberg estimates that by 2040, 57% of all passenger vehicle sales and over 30% of the global passenger vehicle fleet will be electric. These rapid changes in the industry mean that auto manufacturers must constantly refresh their offerings to incorporate the latest automotive safety, fuel efficiency, performance upgrades and designs. With the pressure to reduce time-to-market and launch ahead of competitors, most projects have a timeline of less than a year. Taking these requirements into account, the top priorities for automakers are to 1) maintain flexibility in their manufacturing processes to respond to changing market demands, 2) reduce time-to-market and capture market share ahead of competitors, 3) improve profitability and productivity and 4)achieve a high level of functional safety while reducing overall system complexity, potential points of failure and other downtime issues which impact a business' bottom line.In order to balance these four priorities, automakers are increasingly turning to automation and the Connected Enterprise to revolutionise their manufacturing processes, leading to the rise of some particularly noteworthy trends.Automated analyticsThe integration of equipment and machine analytics can help convert raw data into actionable insights to improve efficiencies and realise a faster time to market. Analytics can also enable automakers to proactively plan and schedule maintenance, allowing them to gain greater control over their production environment. As many existing analytics technologies require deep expertise in both data science and industrial processes, automakers are turning to embedded analytics modules equipped with artificial intelligence (AI), which can apply machine learning concepts without the need for a data scientist. Such modules canpredict production anomalies like an overheating engine or a faulty drive and alert workers, so they can intervene as necessary.Manufacturing Execution System (MES)Manufacturing execution system (MES) software can help auto manufacturers achieve more efficient production, better material coordination, react faster to market changes and improve quality management through three key functionalities: operations management, information management and an integration gateway.Operations Management: An MES can help auto manufacturers better coordinate the full spectrum of production operations for both build-to-stock and build-to-order manufacturing. This includes synchronizing production activities; improving work-instruction delivery to plant personnel in increasingly complex flexible-manufacturing operations; and better management of the flow of materials from warehouses and suppliers.Information Management: Automating data collection in an MES can replace costly, time-consuming and potentially error-prone manual data collection. Data can be displayed in dashboards and as KPIs for better decision making and consistent performance measurement. Production data can also be used for regulatory compliance and warranties, while genealogy and traceability can help limit the scope of recalls and shorten containment response times.Integration Gateway: An MES also enables integration between plant-floor and business networks. This is the key to bridging historically separate information technology (IT) and operations technology (OT) systems to create The Connected Enterprise ­ a unified network architecture that connects the people, processes and technologies across the entire organization, to shorten time-to-market, lower total cost of ownership, improve asset utilisation, drive plant-floor efficiencies and enhance enterprise risk management. By Dana Burch, Industry Sales Director, Auto, Tire, and Electric Vehicle, Asia Pacific, Rockwell AutomationThe role of automation in the automotive industryIN MY OPINION
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