What to Expect from Industrial Automation in 2024?
Published on : Friday 15-12-2023
The future of industrial automation is quite exciting, as major investments are anticipated to continue through 2024, says Benedicta Chettiar.
It is no wonder that industrial automation plays a crucial role in modern industries by improving efficiency, quality and safety. It enables businesses to stay competitive, respond to market dynamics, and contribute to sustainable and responsible manufacturing practices.
As we have cutting-edge technologies today ranging from advanced robots to intelligent systems, and connected devices, one can perform complex tasks and optimise industrial processes effectively and efficiently. But what about its future, what can we expect more from Industrial Automation in the coming days, and how can we utilise it more effectively?
Let us have a look at some of the industrial automation trends for 2024 and beyond:
Integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) – IoT will continue to play a crucial role in industrial automation, connecting devices, sensors and machines to gather and assess data in real-time. IIoT specifically focuses on industrial applications, providing increased efficiency, predictive maintenance and better decision-making.
Enhanced Use of AI and Machine Learning (ML) – Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning algorithms are being used more in industrial automation for decision-making, process optimisation, quality control, and predictive maintenance. These technologies will be useful to industrial businesses in the future for analysing big datasets and finding trends to boost productivity.
Growing Concern for Cybersecurity – As industrial systems become more interconnected, cybersecurity is becoming increasingly important. Safeguarding industrial networks and systems against cyberattacks is crucial for maintaining automated processes' dependability and security.
Growing Shift Towards the Smart Factory – To help deliver real-time insights, end-to-end visibility, and scalable solutions, the smart factory heavily integrates cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, 5G, IoT, data analytics, and cloud computing. Along with safety and sustainability, this will significantly contribute to gains in asset efficiency, labour productivity, and product quality, along with a significant cost reduction.
Digitalisation of Supply Chain – More opportunities for the digitalisation of the supply chain will arise from the integration and application of digital technologies. Digitalisation helps gather and analyse massive amounts of data, automates repetitive and routine tasks, and gives real-time visibility into the entire supply chain.
Growing Adoption of 3D Printing – Prototypes, moulds, completed goods, and other industrial processes are already produced in factories using additive manufacturing, or 3D printing. Future predictions indicate that this technology will become more and more common as it becomes more accessible, capable of producing parts of higher quality, and will allow manufacturers to produce more complex and customised products with reduced waste and increased efficiency.
The development of distributed ledger technologies like blockchain is also significantly advancing industrial automation. The future of industrial automation is quite exciting, as major investments are anticipated to continue through 2024. Industrial firms must embrace new technologies and implement strategies that could not only help their businesses but also mitigate economic uncertainty, labour deficiency, supply chain challenges, and more.
To get more such insights, visit https://www.industrialautomationindia.in/
Benedicta Chettiar is Director, IED Communications and Manager, Strategic Developments, Industrial Automation. Besides these roles, Beni, as she is known, is also actively managing the affairs of Jyothi Process, a state-of-the-art printing press.
