CONTROL & AUTOMATION
NOW. NEXT. BEYOND
BOSCH REXROTH
WHAT THE FACTORY OF THE FUTURE HAS IN STORE
Compare factories of 20 years ago to those
of today and in most cases they won’t look
too dissimilar. On the surface, you may be
right, but dig a little deeper and their heart
will have changed as they adjust to a more
volatile global marketplace. Alongside
increased cost pressures and heightened
quality standards, consumers now expect
customised products, fast delivery, greater
flexibility and shorter lead times. As a
result, efficient working practices are more
important than ever – but how can factories
of the future accommodate this?
Of course, the digital transformation – from
the configuration of networked machines
and systems through to the fully digitalised
value stream – will be key. With some six
billion objects now IoT-connected, we’re
already seeing manufacturers taking
significant steps towards a digital future.
But for some, taking the leap into the
digital age isn’t straightforward, with the
benefits of Industry 4.0 and the process of
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PECM Issue 37
implementation not fully understood.
To understand where the benefits of
digitalisation lie, Bosch Rexroth developed
its own Factory of the Future, demonstrating
every possibility and exploring how
manufacturers can implement them step-
by-step for maximum impact. Let’s explore
some of the key benefits, and how close the
future is.
DIGITISING YOUR VALUE
STREAM
In the Factory of the Future, all hardware
modules and functions are represented
digitally in real-time. Sophisticated software
solutions collect, transfer and process data
from manufacturing and logistics to analyse,
simulate and improve all processes across
the value stream. On the factory floor,
real-time gathering and processing of data
from sensors not only enables production
quality checks at the point of manufacture,
but also facilitates accurate machine and
system health checks through continuous
monitoring.
Distributed intelligence manifests itself
in all technologies and gives machine
manufacturers new options. From cabinet
free drives which reduce cabling; low
energy, intelligent hydraulic power units;
to assembly workstations which provide
employees with work instructions that are
adjusted to the individual’s level of training
and knowledge. At the same time, for
factories looking to evolve gradually, older
machinery can realise many of the benefits
cost-effectively using a pre-configured plug
and play IoT gateway.
MAXIMISING YOUR FLEXIBILITY
Setting the stage for increasing productivity
in serial production, smart factories will
make it possible to (re)configure production
lines and facilities to fast changing
requirements.