The manufacturing-led Industrial Revolution is poised to change everything, from human well-being to sustainable practices.

The manufacturing industry is a vital part of our society. It’s often invisible, but it is essential. The cities we live in, the transport we use, and the goods that we trade are all based on industrial progress. The pandemic taught us that interconnected societies are quickly undermined when production stops.

Innovation in manufacturing is closely linked to technology today. The factories of the near future, powered by robots and artificial intelligence, have the potential to produce the products we need more efficiently, safely, and cheaply and reduce the strain on an already overstressed environment. Are industries and nations ready to embrace the future?

In the United States, factories of every size are faced with a number of challenges, including a lack of skilled labor, inefficient supply chains, insufficient infrastructure, and an inability to predict. How can traditional factories be transformed to maximize the benefits of Automation?

Transforming industrial workplace

What will the factory look like in the future? Mark Sadie has worked in industrial Automation for over 30 years. He is the Managing Director of OMRON Microscan and OMRON Microscan and Vice-President of Technology and Marketing of OMRON Automation Americas. He describes the blueprint for the factory that will be built in the future:

He says that “first, the next level of automation must be integrated.” “In other words, the factory must allow individual devices to seamlessly work together using artificial intelligence or AI autonomy so that machines can detect change and adapt. Hardware must also be flexible and customizable to adapt to micro-customer or macro-market changes quickly.

It is essential to have a good data network and connectivity. Sadie explains that the factory of tomorrow is smart. It uses high-quality, real-time information to assist managers in making critical and rapid business decisions. Examples include improving operational efficiency, quality control, and predictive maintenance. The connectivity between multiple factories of a company and a cloud or internal network must be seamless and instantaneous.

Human concerns on both a micro and macro scale are becoming more prominent as high-tech Automation grows. Sadie says that safety must always come first. At OMRON, we are very focused on how to integrate Automation in a client’s facility. Sustainability is also important. “Future factory designs must incorporate integrated sustainable practices, energy-efficient processes, waste reduction, and eco-friendly materials.”

Automate the repetitive and ergonomically unsafe tasks while humans focus on their creativity. This leads to a feeling of accomplishment and personal growth, which ultimately improves the quality of life.

The partnership between man and machine

All industries will continue to face challenges in terms of talent growth, retention, and training. Automation should not add to these concerns but rather alleviate them.

Simon Johnson, Professor of Entrepreneurship at the MIT Sloan School of Management and co-author with Daron Acemoglu of “Power and Progress: Our Thousand-Year Struggle Over Technology and Success,” states: “Automation has always replaced people with machines and algorithmic processes. Sometimes, Automation can be part of a process of innovation that creates many new, well-paying jobs. It is important to have a management mindset. “We need to think in a way that encourages the development and use of human-complementary technology.”

OMRON believes that the goal of an automated society does not include replacing humans with machines but improving certain routines and activities in order to advance human evolution. Sadie says, “Let automation handle the repetitive and ergonomically unsafe tasks while humans focus on creativity.” With that comes a feeling of personal growth, and that improves the quality of life.

He continues: “We often use the word harmony. To us, humans are and will always be an integral part of factories. Humans are allowed to focus on problem-solving, creativity, and decision-making while machines do the repetitive, challenging, and at times dangerous tasks. To man, further creation is the thrill.

The next Industrial Revolution: Automating

OMRON’s automation capabilities reduce factory workloads. Manufacturers can benefit from single-source solutions in sensing, control and motion, vision, safety, and robotics.

Sadie says, “Our strength is not only that we offer the largest selection of automation technologies but also our confidence in their seamless integration. Our customers can use one software package with one connection, and the setup is quick. “Our total comprehensive automation supplier mindset is transforming global manufacture.”

OMRON’s 90-year legacy has seen it drive change in industry and society. Today, i-BELT Data Services enables meaningful partnerships in digital transformation, energy management, and sustainable production. The company’s AI controller technology, which is a game-changer in data management and productivity, allows companies to be free of cloud-based systems.

What is it that makes OMRON different? Sadie says without hesitation, “Our pledge is to improve lives and to contribute to a more tolerant society.” “That is our North Star, and it guides everything we do from day-to-day decisions to long term strategic planning.”

Since its inception, the company’s focus has been on identifying and addressing critical societal issues. OMRON helps businesses, from SMEs to large corporations, to tackle pressing problems such as decarbonization and quality competitiveness. Sadie says that OMRON is still driven by its social responsibility. “It’s what we do, and it’s how we continue to grow.”