Learn how to create a robust and flexible plan for your industrial automation goals using six steps of industrial engineering.

1) Establish a standard open communication protocol used by many vendors, and do not be swayed from it with bait from a vendor. Go Modbus RTU and do not leave it for any reason. Bait is intended to make you captive, so don't go there. 2) Choose projects based on their economic value to you, and make them meet credible tests before committing significant funds to that path.

Last updated on Apr 21, 2024

How can you develop a long-term strategy for industrial automation?

Industrial automation is the use of technology and software to control and optimize production processes, reduce human intervention, and improve efficiency and quality. It can offer many benefits for industrial engineering, such as increased productivity, reduced costs, enhanced safety, and better customer satisfaction. However, it also poses some challenges, such as complex integration, high initial investment, skills gap, and social and ethical implications. Therefore, developing a long-term strategy for industrial automation is essential to ensure its success and sustainability. Here are some steps you can follow to create a robust and flexible plan for your industrial automation goals.

Key takeaways from this article

Implement agile techniques:

Embracing agile methodologies allows for flexible development and quick adaptation to changes. You can start small, iterate quickly, and scale up automation efficiently.
Conduct risk assessment:

Regularly analyzing the risks associated with your technology environment is vital. This proactive approach helps you stay ahead of security needs and aligns upgrades with your long-term strategy.

This summary is powered by AI and these experts

Rodson Varella

Senior Automation Engineer for finance…

1 Assess your current state

The first step is to evaluate your current situation and identify your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) related to industrial automation. You can use various tools and methods, such as value stream mapping, gap analysis, benchmarking, and surveys, to collect and analyze data on your processes, performance, resources, capabilities, and needs. This will help you understand where you are, where you want to be, and what gaps you need to fill.

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Rodson Varella

Senior Automation Engineer for finance at @ BASF | Lean, SAP, Databricks, Power Platform
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In my experience, having a simple and easy-to-maintain development using agile methodologies will help ensure speed and a variety of specifications that many of the automations require." ogia-agil

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Dan Mackie

Pres at DrSCADA Automation
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1) Establish a standard open communication protocol used by many vendors, and do not be swayed from it with bait from a vendor. Go Modbus RTU and do not leave it for any reason. Bait is intended to make you captive, so don't go there. 2) Choose projects based on their economic value to you, and make them meet credible tests before committing significant funds to that path.

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Joshua Pickering

Automation Engineer and Biochemist (MSc) based in Saskatoon
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Build firm foundations, use standardized parts, learn Six-Sigma, eliminate complexity and establish routine. Make complex things trivial, and when you can't, specialize someone to handle it with persistent precision. Understanding the difference between capacity and demand and throttle peak demand loads. Manage expectations

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Keith Atkinson

50 year old, 28 Year veteran of the Automation and Digitalization Industry. Applications sales and proposals specialist.
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Involve stakeholders from as many areas of your business as you can. Understand their needs and frustrations. Consult as many manufacturers sales specialists as you can. Understand your long term needs and how to get there in steps. Don't try and do it all at once. More time spent defining requirements at the beginning reduces the chance of mistakes later on.

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2 Define your vision and objectives

The next step is to define your vision and objectives for industrial automation. You should have a clear and compelling statement of what you want to achieve and why. You should also have specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals that align with your vision and support your business strategy. For example, you may want to increase your output by 20% in the next five years, reduce your waste by 15% in the next three years, or improve your customer satisfaction by 10% in the next two years.

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Christopher Munro
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Watch out when defining vision and objectives for a long term automation system. I've seen first hand what happens when you have a great vision and some good goals but then aren't prepared for the details that need to go into everything. If it's your first dip into serious automation then find a company that does it and ask them for help. Then identify how you are going to cover safety and upgrades. Automation is moving fast and with AI getting better and better you need a system that can be updated as fast as new technology comes out instead of something with no interchangeable parts.

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3 Select your automation technologies

The third step is to select the appropriate automation technologies that can help you meet your objectives. You should consider various factors, such as the level of automation, the type of process, the complexity of tasks, the availability of skills, the compatibility of systems, the cost of implementation, and the return on investment. You should also research and compare different options, such as robotics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, internet of things, sensors, actuators, and software. You should choose the ones that best suit your needs, budget, and capabilities.

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4 Design your automation system

The fourth step is to design your automation system based on your selected technologies and objectives. You should follow the principles of industrial engineering, such as lean, agile, and six sigma, to optimize your system for efficiency, quality, and flexibility. You should also consider the human factors, such as ergonomics, usability, safety, and motivation, to ensure a smooth and harmonious interaction between people and machines. You should also test and validate your system before deploying it to avoid errors and risks.

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5 Implement and monitor your automation system

The fifth step is to implement and monitor your automation system according to your design and plan. You should follow the best practices of project management, such as scope, schedule, budget, quality, risk, and communication, to ensure a successful and timely execution. You should also train and educate your employees on how to use and maintain the system and how to adapt to the changes. You should also measure and evaluate your system's performance and impact using key performance indicators (KPIs) and feedback.

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6 Review and improve your automation system

The sixth and final step is to review and improve your automation system based on your monitoring and evaluation results. You should identify and address any issues, problems, or gaps that may arise during or after the implementation. You should also seek and implement any opportunities, innovations, or enhancements that may improve your system's efficiency, quality, or flexibility. You should also update and revise your vision, objectives, and plan as needed to reflect the changing market, customer, and technology trends.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can you develop a long-term strategy for industrial automation?

1

2

3

4

5

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1 Assess your current state

2 Define your vision and objectives

3 Select your automation technologies

4 Design your automation system

5 Implement and monitor your automation system

6 Review and improve your automation system

7 Here’s what else to consider

Industrial Engineering

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How can you develop a long-term strategy for industrial automation?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Assess your current state

2 Define your vision and objectives

3 Select your automation technologies

4 Design your automation system

5 Implement and monitor your automation system

6 Review and improve your automation system

7 Here’s what else to consider

Industrial Engineering

Rate this article

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