Do the role of IoT in micro-factory is important?

Micro-factories are seen as a revolutionary approach in the manufacturing sector. According to the World Economic Forum, Micro-factories are small-to-medium modular manufacturing facilities using state-of-the-art technology such as AI to optimize operations. A smaller amount of power is consumed by micro-factories, which also require fewer people as compared to traditional factories. 

What are Micro-factories?

Micro-factories are small-scale manufacturing facilities that produce goods on a small scale, often using automation and robotics to streamline production processes. The major advantages of micro-factories are cost, efficiency, and energy savings compared to traditional factories.

According to the World Economic Forum, micro-factories support waste elimination with the support of AI, machine learning, big data, and other innovative technologies to optimize the process and personalize it for their customers.

“A rolling stone gathers no moss,” meaning that constant improvement and innovation are key to staying ahead of the competition.

IoT, or the Internet of Things, technology plays a major role in micro-factories, providing real-time data and insights to help manufacturers optimize production processes, reduce waste, and improve product quality.

“Those who start early and work hard are more likely to achieve success,” as the saying goes.

Why are micro-factories important in the automotive sector?

Micro-factory found success in the automotive sector. According to the World Economic Forum, one such successful example is UK-based electric vehicle manufacturer Arrival. Decentralized micro-factories are the ones with highly automated processes.

Advanced robots and software are mostly used in the production line to adapt to quick changes without human intervention.

Arrival’s micro-factories are easier to use, more compatible, and simpler to replace when needed thanks to their modular technology. Arrival also reduces waste by customizing the products to satisfy consumer requests.

Micro-factories were built with a rough cost of US$50 million as compared to a huge billion dollars spent on a traditional factory.

Case Study example-Robotron

In 2019, the Japanese company Robotron focused on developing micro-factories. The robot is called the Robotron RM-100. The robot was capable of doing a variety of tasks, such as assembling, welding, and painting.

Computer systems use machine learning algorithms for controlling robots to learn and adapt to specific needs. A wide variety of tasks were allowed to be performed by the robots with more efficiency and accuracy than any traditional robots, saving a lot of time and money for manufacturers.

How IoT technology can play a major role in micro-factories?

IoT, or the Internet of Things, plays the most important role in real-time data and insights by helping manufacturers optimize production processes, reduce waste, and also improve product quality.

A factory’s temperature, humidity, and other production-affecting variables are monitored by sensors positioned all over the place. Real-time data analysis allows for the identification of possible issues and the implementation of corrective measures that boost output and efficiency.

IoT technology also benefits micro-factories by allowing remote monitoring and control of machines. The cloud-based platforms also allow manufacturers to monitor and control machines from anywhere in the world.

Micro-factories are also useful in remote areas with skilled labor. IoT technology also supports micro-factories to reduce waste by optimizing production processes.

If we see, the concept of micro-factories is to improve efficiency, be more goal-oriented, and identify opportunities such as placing sensors on machines to track the amount of used raw materials and also the amount of finished goods produced.

The real-time data also supports analyzing opportunities to reduce waste and improve the quality of the product.

“The early bird catches the worm,” meaning that those who start early and work hard are more likely to achieve success.

Bosch, in 2020, launched a new line of IoT-enabled robots for micro-factories. Bosch Robotics BRC-100 is capable of a variety of tasks, such as assembly, welding, and painting. A cloud-based platform is used to control the robots, allowing manufacturers to monitor and control the robots anywhere in the world.

So, as we can see, IoT is way more important than we can imagine due to its ability to provide insights and in-depth information from raw data to revolutionize the operation of micro-factories.

One of the most important results that can be noticed is the reduction of waste and the improvement of product quality. IoT technologies could be seen as the most advanced and competitive technology in the domain of micro-factories that supports factories to grow increasingly in the global economy.