MAY - 20209MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY INSIGHTSAugmented RealityAutomotive manufacturing consists of hundreds and even thousands of steps, and with the business' bottom-line at stake,it is critical to help to ensure that there are no mistakes in between. Augmented reality (AR) delivers more efficient and effective ways of looking at digital information within the physical world. In factories, data from automation and control systems, secondary sensors, and asset management systems are collected and represented as a digital twin, a 3D virtual real-time representation of the physical systemswhich includes important monitoring and diagnostic data about each machine or process. Workers can check on the actual workings and real-time performance data of the physical systems remotely, reducing manpower costs.By attaching relevant information to the physical location where it will be best observed and understood, AR interfaces deliver just the right information the moment it's needed to factory workers on assembly lines, reducing errors, enhancing efficiency, and improving productivity.Intelligent ConveyanceIn a typical automotive assembly plant, chain conveyors, roller-beds and skillet conveyors often run at fixed speeds and pitch, and the conveyance system is continuously consuming electricity and cannot accelerate, decelerate and precisely position a specific chassis to save time and energy.While some conventional systems may allow for variation in pitch or distance between the movers, in many situations that distance cannot be easily modified to accommodate multiple model types within one assembly line.In addition, traditional conveyers are complex and made up of hundreds of wear components. These large, complicated solutions are not only difficult to modify but also prone to maintenance and costly downtime. The rotary motor technology used in conventional friction-based transfer systems also add inertia in linear applications and limit improvements in speed and acceleration.New advances in independent cart conveyance ­ based on linear motor technology ­ are enabling significant performance gains.By enabling the end-to-end configuration of conveyor modules, anelectro-magnetic force is created which propels carriers at a much faster rate than traditional systems. And because linear motors have no contacting or wear components, maintenance is minimal.Apart from linear motors, intelligent motion control is also the key to improved productivity, flexibility and sustainability. One of the latest innovations in the field is a "pitchless" carrier conveyance system that's more energy efficient and 30 percent faster than conventional friction-based transfer systems. Manufacturers can program accelerations, decelerations, velocities and positions depending on the unique needs of their assembly line, allowing for greater use of industrial robots and other process equipment, making the overall system footprint much smaller than traditional systems.Analytics, MES software, AR and intelligent conveyance are the bread-and-butter of efficient, scalable and flexible automotive manufacturing. These technology advancements allow auto manufacturers to improve quality, productivity, energy efficiency and responsiveness to market demands while reducingsystem complexity, potential points of failure and downtime, all of which are critical to a business' bottom line.Auto manufacturers who wish to harness the full potential of their supply chain can consider utilising solutions like these, which are not only scalable and customisable but also provide the foundation for future enhancements, allowing them to adapt quickly to industry challenges and opportunities.
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