Mark Adams
For your manufacturing business to be successful, you need to have the right tools in place. The right software can help you manage various aspects of your business, from the supply chain to materials and inventory and even job tracking. With the help of these tools, you don’t have to create a manual process to keep everything running smoothly.
Remember that in manufacturing, you need to have reliable financial and inventory management tools. The software should help you to perform material requirements planning to manage the manufacturing process. It’s also important to use tools that have a safety management feature. These features can help to provide a holistic solution to manufacturing management.
Below are some ways clever software engineering can help manufacturing startups.
1. Embedded Systems
Embedded systems play a significant role in how most of the technology we use daily operates, from home appliances to smartphones, heating, and security systems. All these things use an embedded system technology to function.
While the expertise and technology needed to build embedded systems are not necessarily complex, without the embedded systems, many of the systems and devices that we use could stop working effectively. This is why electronics businesses invest in quality embedded software engineering recruitment to stay on top of system maintenance. So, what exactly is an embedded system? An Embedded system refers to a computer system that is part of a much bigger system. They often consist of a microcontroller that carries out a specific function within a product and is found in almost every piece of modern technology that we use every day.
In manufacturing automotive and industrial machines, the embedded system is a huge help. While the embedded system is often committed to performing a single task, it must not be confused with a dedicated system. An Embedded system is called as such since this component is fixed inside a device or machine and cannot be removed, which is different from a modular component that you can swap out for something that functions differently.
Since the embedded system is small, it does not require a lot of power to operate. Usually, it’s made only of communication ports, processors, memory storage, and power supply. It also requires minimal software to run and connect with other components, and that’s because they only perform simple functions.
2. Automation and Controls
Industrial fields, such as manufacturing and distribution, can benefit from Programmable Logic Controllers, also known as PLC. Your manufacturing company can take advantage of these by simply implementing a PLC system in your operation. For instance, this system can help to streamline your manufacturing floor and improve visibility.
To implement PLC, you may need to put out for PLC engineer jobs to automation recruiters. These are professionals who design control programs for electrical systems and machinery, especially those in the manufacturing sector and seeking to automate their processes. They also develop and optimise processes and perform maintenance and fault diagnostics once the program is implemented.
PLC is a compact and low-cost system that works well in the manufacturing field. Although it’s small, it has amazing strength and ability. Another thing that makes this system beneficial for the industrial industry is that it’s well-protected. It’s resilient and can survive harsh conditions, including external factors like dust, moisture, cold, and heat. In addition, these systems have various uses, including data acquisition. The unique and specific needs of a manufacturing business will determine how you want to build the PLC system. Since heavy machinery and software are often at odds, the PLC system can help bring these two together. What’s great about the PLC is that it’s compact and durable, as well as dust and heat resistant.
One of the advantages of using a PLC system when automating and controlling your manufacturing company is its ability to improve visibility in your manufacturing company in various ways. For instance, it can be remotely accessed. Everyone within the organisation, from the management to field workers, can have access to it and will know what’s going on. But aside from allowing you to remotely monitor over the Internet, it can also help develop a data warehouse that you can use for reporting and other business applications. It will also give managers access to productivity streams and all sorts of numbers right at their fingertips. Since it’s highly customisable, you can set how visible you want it to be.
3. Robotics
While various changes are happening in the workplace from time to time, one thing remains – skilled labour will always be in demand. However, manufacturing roles could evolve, and labourers must adapt to the new technologies to compete in their fields. As industrial robots become faster, smarter, and cheaper, several manufacturing companies are starting to integrate this technology into their workforce. But this does not necessarily mean that robotics will be replacing humans. While it’s true that some of the less desirable jobs go to machines, this trend has positive outcomes in the field of manufacturing.
Robotics have different functions and abilities, but industrial robots have the greatest number of applications in manufacturing. They are useful in various aspects, from packaging and labelling to product inspection, testing, and more. What’s great is that they perform these applications with speed and precision, something that manual labour cannot match.
Manufacturing robots provide numerous benefits, including cost savings. This might come as a surprise since manufacturing startups tend to assume that robotics is a very expensive investment. Although the initial cost could be steep, it can save manufacturers thousands of dollars in improved productivity and reduced costs. The most obvious way in which robots can help reduce the cost of running a manufacturing business is that they will not require regular compensation. So, even though the initial cost seems daunting, manufacturing startups should consider the long-term return on their investment.
Remember, robots can work 24 hours a day, 7 seven days a week and with no interruptions. They are also capable of producing precise and repeatable movements, which reduces the time spent correcting errors. Once the robot is programmed and trained to perform specific tasks, it can speed up the manufacturing process, which translates into bigger profits.
