Industrial automation has long ceased to be a simple mechanical repetition on the production line,
but the core engine of the transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing industry. In the global
industry chain restructuring, technology waves, this industry is ushering in a profound change. In the
future, industrial automation will no longer be limited to “machine for man”, but towards more
flexible, more intelligent, more integrated direction, redefine the competitiveness of modern manufacturing.
First, the integration of technology to drive the intelligent
upgrade of automation systems
At present, industrial automation has been controlled from a single machine, production line integration,
and gradually enter the system intelligence stage. Traditional PLC, sensors, servo systems and other basic
components are still continuing to improve the accuracy and reliability, but the more significant trend is the
cross-fertilization of a variety of technologies.
On the one hand, the popularity of the Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) allows real-time collection and
analysis of equipment data, making production status transparent and predictable. On the other hand, the
in-depth application of artificial intelligence and machine learning allows automation systems to have
autonomous decision-making and optimization capabilities. For example, through visual recognition and
algorithm analysis, quality inspection can realize millisecond defect detection; through predictive
maintenance models, equipment can be early warning before failure, significantly reducing downtime
losses.
Meanwhile, the low-latency and high-bandwidth characteristics of 5G networks provide new possibilities
for industrial wireless communication, which is especially suitable for flexible production lines, mobile
robots and remote control scenarios. Digital twin technology, through virtual modeling and real-time
mapping, realizes the whole life cycle management from R&D to operation and maintenance, and
becomes the “operating system” of the smart factory.
These technologies no longer exist in isolation, but gradually constitute a collaborative ecosystem,
promoting automation from “execution of orders” to “perception-decision-execution” of the closed loop.
Second, flexible manufacturing has become the key ability to
respond to market changes
With the increasingly personalized consumer demand, order fragmentation, the traditional large-scale
standardized production model is facing challenges. Industrial automation systems are evolving towards
flexibility and reconfigurability to support efficient production of multiple varieties and small batches.
The combination of modularized equipment and programmable logic control enables the production
line to quickly adjust the process path and adapt to the manufacturing needs of different products. The
widespread use of autonomous mobile robots (AMR) and collaborative robots further enhances the
flexibility of production layout. They are able to work with people, autonomously carry materials between
different work stations, and even complete tasks such as assembly and packaging, significantly shortening
the turnaround time.
In addition, the production scheduling system based on the cloud platform can dynamically optimize
the production plan according to the order priority, equipment status, material inventory and other
data to achieve efficient allocation of resources. This flexibility not only improves the enterprise's
response speed to the market, but also reduces inventory pressure and operating costs.
Third, green and safe to become the double bottom line of
automation development
In the context of the “double carbon” goal, industrial automation has become an important hand
in promoting energy saving and consumption reduction in the manufacturing industry. High-efficiency
motors, energy management systems (EMS) and other technology applications to help enterprises
monitor energy consumption in real time, optimize the operating parameters of the equipment, reduce
energy waste. At the same time, the application of automation equipment in the field of photovoltaic,
lithium-ion, energy storage and other new energy sources also provides technical support for the
large-scale production of green energy.
Security level, in addition to the traditional functional safety, information security is increasingly
being emphasized. With the deepening of system interconnection, industrial networks are facing
more external threats. Building a deep defense system to achieve security protection from the
device layer to the platform layer has become a necessary element in the construction of
automation systems. Security is no longer just an additional option, but a core requirement
embedded in the technical architecture.
Fourth, industry chain synergy and talent structure reshaping
The development of industrial automation also promotes the deepening of the industrial chain
division of labor. Upstream core component manufacturers continue to improve product
performance and compatibility, midstream system integrators focus on industry solutions to provide
overall delivery services to downstream users. This specialized division of labor helps reduce the
technical threshold and accelerate the popularization of automation technology in small and
medium-sized enterprises.
At the same time, the structure of talent demand is also changing. The traditional equipment
operation positions are reduced, and the demand for technical personnel with mechanical,
electrical, software composite background has surged. Engineers who are familiar with the
process, know how to analyze data, and can operate and maintain intelligent equipment will
become the backbone of the future factory. Enterprises and institutions need to strengthen
cooperation, promote the integration of industry and education, and cultivate composite
talents adapted to the intelligent transformation.
Challenges and opportunities coexist
Despite the broad prospects, the industry is still facing many challenges. For example, high
initial investment costs, old equipment interconnection difficulties, data standardization and
other issues, restricting the pace of automation and upgrading of some enterprises. In addition,
the rapid pace of technology iteration, how to maintain the openness of the system and the
ability of sustainable evolution, is also the focus of users.
However, these challenges also breed new opportunities. With the gradual decline in the cost
of hardware and software, the rise of open source platforms and the increasing maturity of
solutions, the popularity of industrial automation will be further increased. Especially in strategic
industries such as high-end equipment, new energy vehicles, and biomedicine, automation
technology will become the cornerstone of innovation breakthroughs.
Conclusion
Industrial automation is undergoing a transformation from a “tool” to a “partner”. It is no longer
a cold mechanical combination, but an intelligent system that deeply integrates perception,
calculation and execution. In the future, as technology continues to evolve and application scenarios
continue to broaden, industrial automation will be more deeply integrated into every aspect of the
manufacturing industry, promoting the industry to the direction of high efficiency, green, flexible
and continue to move forward. For enterprises, take the initiative to embrace this trend, build
their own automation capabilities, will undoubtedly take the lead in the future market competition.