Industrial Automation Magazine India

Strategies for Scaling Up Digital Transformation: Expert Insights

Published on : Thursday 04-01-2024

Girish Ayya, Co-founder, Avadhoot Automation Solutions Pvt Ltd.

What are the key aspects to consider for a typical company that wants to switch over from a traditional manufacturing process to an automated environment?

There are many factors that a company should consider before adopting automation in manufacturing, such as:

• The type and level of automation that suits the company’s goals, needs, and capabilities.

• The impact of automation on the workforce’s skills, and roles, and

• To ensure a smooth transition to automation in manufacturing.

Companies should take into account several important factors. It is crucial to keep in mind that there is no one-size-fits-all solution.

 

How scalable are automation and digitalisation solutions for different sizes of manufacturing facilities?

Scaling up digital transformation is a complex process that needs careful planning, management, and evaluation of the costs, benefits, and impacts of the solutions. Some of the factors that affect the scalability of automation and digitalisation solutions are:

• The compatibility and integration of the solutions with the existing processes, systems, and machinery.

• The availability of resources like IT infrastructure, skilled workforce and leadership, and

• The alignment and coordination of solutions with business goals, needs, and core values.

 

What are the initial costs associated with implementing factory automation and digitalisation?

The cost involved in implementing factory automation and digitalisation at the initial stage depends on various factors like:

• Hardware costs, such as sensors, robots, machines, devices, and networks

• Software costs, such as licenses, subscriptions, platforms, and applications

• Data costs, such as collection, storage, processing, and analysis

• Implementation costs, such as installation, integration, testing, and debugging

• Maintenance costs, such as repairs, upgrades, and replacements, and

• Training costs, such as courses, workshops, and certifications.

 

How does the adoption of automation and digitalisation impact the skills required for the workforce?

The adoption of automation and digitalisation has a considerable influence on the skills needed for the workforce.

Based on some studies, the primary effects are as follows:

• The need for technological skills will increase, as the worker force will have to use, develop, or adapt new technologies in their work.

• The need for soft skills, such as communication, collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving, will also increase.

• The need for cognitive skills, such as data entry and processing, will decrease, as these tasks can be more easily automated.

• The need for lifelong learning and reskilling will become more important, as workers will have to adapt to changing work environments.

 

What regulatory considerations should manufacturers keep in mind when implementing automation and digitalisation with respect to safety and security?

Safety and security are important aspects of automation and digitisation in manufacturing, as they affect the well-being of workers, customers, society, performance and reputation of the business.

Some of the regulatory considerations are:

• Compliance with relevant laws, standards, and guidelines

• Assessment and management of the risks and impacts of the solutions, and

• Communication and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.

 

How can existing machinery and systems be integrated into a digitalised manufacturing environment, and the challenges in the integration process?

Integrating existing machinery and systems into a digitalised manufacturing environment is a complex and challenging process.

Some of the steps and challenges involved are:

• Some components may require retrofitting, upgrading or replacing due to incompatibility with new technologies

• It is essential to install, integrate, test, and debug new solutions

• Training, upskilling, reskilling, and engaging the workforce and the leadership, and

• Aligning the new solutions with the business goals, needs, and core values.

 

(The views expressed in interviews are personal, not necessarily of the organisations represented.)

 

Girish Ayya is a Technologist, an Industrial IoT Evangelist and Thought Leader helping Indian manufacturing industries to achieve digital transformation journey through disruptive technologies. He is also a Speaker at various Industry forums and Educational institutions on the SMART Manufacturing Technologies.

An Industrial Automation professional with over 40+ years of experience comprising Industrial Automation Project Management, Automation Solutions, Marketing, Client Support Function and Customer Support BU Operations, Girish has worked over two decades with Public Sector, Privately owned firms and MNCs like IFFCO – Kalol Unit (Public Sector), Contech India Pvt Ltd (privately owned Company), and YOKOGAWA India (formerly YOKOGAWA BlueStar Ltd).

Girish is co-founder of Avadhoot Automation Solutions Pvt Ltd, the company helping manufacturing industries to innovate, change and transform manufacturing operations with technology adoption. He is on a mission to build an army of SMART manufacturing technology leaders by mentoring & training to transform the Indian manufacturing sector into an intelligent manufacturing hub.

Girish also conducts workshops on Motivational Topics, Leadership skills development and adoption of Technology for the SMART manufacturing areas.