Automation blog

Data paradise factory floor: get more out of your machine and production information

25 September, 2020 Strategic Data Science is an essential pillar of every Industry 4.0 scenario. A four-step data mining approach based on CRISP-DM supports successful projects.

Get the full value from your factory floor data with data sciences

19 June, 2020 Industry 4.0 and IIoT have been buzz words for several years and these concepts are actually implemented on more and more machines. A huge amount of data becomes available: machine data, data of the production process and data regarding the manufactured product. Big Data has entered the factory floor.

Energizing European battery cell production

01 May, 2020 What can European automotive companies do to future-proof their production lines, especially in relation to battery manufacturing? Robotics, automated quality control and artificial intelligence (AI) can help companies to tackle the strong competition they are facing from Asia.

How industrial companies are catching up in the AI race

16 December, 2019 Artificial intelligence (AI) is achieving breakthroughs in the industrial sector. McKinsey recently forecasted that the global market for AI-based services, software and hardware will grow by up to 25% annually and will be worth around US$130 billion by 2025. But AI also represents a major challenge for industries in Europe, which are lagging behind the US and China. So, how can we start putting AI into action? Predictive maintenance is one area that demonstrates its advantages and potential.

Smart machines: laying the golden egg?

16 October, 2019 Greater manufacturing efficiency: it’s the golden egg we’re all looking for. But it’s getting increasingly hard to find. The solution could be smarter automation, which involves lots and lots of data (‘big data’) and data collection and data-driven modelling. The smart machine then uses the models to automatically adjust its own behaviour (i.e. machine learning).

Improve OEE with Artificial Intelligence at the Edge in Food Manufacturing

16 October, 2019 Implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in food manufacturing is picking up speed. Many F&B companies are realizing that AI presents an opportunity to increase not only the Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) – and therefore combine reduced costs with increased productivity – but also to improve the analysis of data to support continuous improvement programs such as reducing waste or process operations variability.

Edge, Fog and Cloud clarified

16 September, 2019 What do the terms Edge, Fog and Cloud mean in relation to artificial intelligence in industrial manufacturing? They are actually different layers of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Here is a quick overview on how we at Omron describe these terms in relation to AI, using an analogy with a nervous system.

Artificial Intelligence and the future of manufacturing

16 September, 2019 The discussion about ‘Artificial Intelligence’ (AI) in manufacturing is now gaining momentum. This is mainly due to the availability of greater processing power and increasing volumes of data (the ‘sensorisation’ of the industry). A key factor that will help manufacturers to gain the maximum benefit from these recent advances is the use of adaptive algorithms. This in turn is a major stepping stone towards the development of ‘the factory of the future’.

Collaborative capabilities

31 May, 2023 Omron Automation robotics can be used in collaborative applications, where they work alongside human operators to pick up and place objects. The robots are designed to be safe to work around, with sensors and other safety features that prevent collisions and other accidents. This allows manufacturers to use collaborative robotics in a wide range of applications, improving productivity and efficiency while maintaining a safe work environment. With collaborative capabilities, manufacturers can take advantage of the benefits of automation while still maintaining a human touch in their production processes.

Introduction to Pick & Place applications and Omron Automation Robotics

08 May, 2023 Pick & Place applications are a common task in industrial settings, where objects need to be moved from one place to another quickly and accurately. This can be a repetitive and time-consuming task that can be automated using robotics solutions. In this blog post, we will explore how robotics can help with Pick & Place applications and improve productivity

Traceability

13 April, 2023 During this series of blogs focusing on Traceability we will discover how traceability in manufacturing has evolved over time from its first iteration to today’s evolution Traceability 4.0.Traceability definitions have been evolving since the invention of automatic data capture equipment – primarily barcode readers – over 40 years ago. Since then, traceability applications have evolved to support industrial development from both a product technology and business process perspective.The breadth and scope of traceability has expanded significantly over the years along with advances in technology, making it a critical application for today’s world-class manufacturers. In this post will explore the evolution of traceability and explain why the latest phase, Traceability 4.0, is not just about tracking products throughout the supply chain but also optimising productivity, quality and brand reputation within the manufacturing operation by tying product to process parameters.

Top 5 automation predictions for 2023 from OMRON Europe

01 February, 2023 While a new year is upon us, with all its opportunities, I'd like to highlight some of the top trends that will impact and shape industrial automation in 2023 and beyond. The manufacturing industries will continue to face many challenges, and riding them out will involve building resilience and flexibility into business models. At the same time, companies must embrace emerging technologies - sensing, robotics, 5G and artificial intelligence - to help them solve the problems they face due to societal challenges.

Riders of the storm: navigating economic uncertainty by turning social challenges into tech opportunities

06 December, 2022 One of the questions I am often asked is what our strategy is, as an industrial automation business, for maintaining stable growth in a volatile and increasingly unpredictable global economy. My answer, as you might imagine, is not one sentence, although it is rooted in one concept: SINIC. SINIC stands for ‘Seed-Innovation to Need-Impetus Cyclic Evolution’ and is a theory that was developed by OMRON's founder, Dr. Kazuma Tateisi, in 1970. According to this philosophy, science, technology and society share a cyclical relationship, mutually impacting and influencing each other. Scientific breakthroughs help society to advance and social needs spur on technological development. OMRON Europe has always followed this philosophy, and has spent the last decade laying the foundations for creating value-adding solutions to present day social and economic challenges.

Four Automation Tips for SMEs

25 November, 2022 Corporate leaders around the world are currently facing one challenge after another: In addition to the exploding costs caused by the energy crisis, there are supply chain problems, a shortage of skilled workers, sustainability requirements, and advancing digitization issues. In particular, small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) need to quickly find ways to address these hurdles. Automation provides a remedy – this includes robotics such as cobots and AMR (autonomous mobile robots), as well as sensors, vision, and AI technology. While companies are well aware of the benefits of such technologies, studies also show that many remain skeptical of their actual use.Especially companies without application experience fear that the use of robots could be accompanied by high costs. So if you are currently wondering whether the purchase of a collaborative or mobile robot is worthwhile for your own business, OMRON's new ROI calculator will help. It provides a quick overview of the return on investment and shows when a robotics investment will cover its costs.

Digitalization in the automotive industry: Seven tips for smart production

02 November, 2022 If you want to grow and master crises, you have to be digitally fit – this also applies to the important automotive sector. There is no way around digital tools for addressing customers or productivity. Artificial intelligence (AI) and sustainability are key drivers and focus topics, as a study by Capgemini shows. Experts from Gartner point out the importance of open-source collaboration approaches, holistic ecosystems, and technology partnerships. But what should we look out for in digitalization and intralogistics in the production of the future? We want to answer this question in two parts. We start with tips on digitization in the smart factory. As an automation expert, OMRON has been accompanying manufacturers and suppliers on their way to more digitalization sophistication for many years.

Flexible Manufacturing Roadshow: Taking the factory of the future across Europe

16 June, 2022 What if you could see, feel and touch the factory of the future? What does it take to realize flexible, efficient, and sustainable production? This is the idea behind OMRON’s unique Flexible Manufacturing Roadshow travelling across Europe this year.  The roadshow features exclusive demonstrations of human-machine collaborative solutions not usually seen outside of a factory setting due to their size and scale. 

Building the Factory of the Future together

16 June, 2022 As one of the largest business units at OMRON, we aim to further develop the Den Bosch plant to serve the needs in the EMEA region.

Traceability in Automotive: What decision-makers and experts should look out for now

23 May, 2022 From e-mobility to autonomous driving, from skills shortages to digitalization: The automotive industry is undergoing a profound change, marked, for example, by a shift to globalized platforms and standardized vehicle architectures. On the one hand, production is becoming increasingly efficient, but on the other, even a single faulty part can have more far-reaching effects than ever before. Faced with costly recalls, automotive manufacturers are confronted with increasingly complex requirements and stricter specifications. Is the effort of traceability worth it if it means labeling up to 20,000 parts per vehicle? Yes, it is, but powerful reading and verification technologies along with powerful software is needed to make sense of all the data.There are several reasons why manufacturers need to keep accurate records of the parts and components that make up a new car. From a quality perspective, for example, barcode tracking helps to ensure that the right parts are put together. Even more important, however, is the ability to trace each car part back to its original supplier. In the event of a recall or the discovery of a faulty part, manufacturers have to be able to quickly and comprehensively find out where each part came from. This is complemented by information such as batch number, date of manufacture and other important information to identify which vehicles are affected by a defective part. Recommendations and standards from AIAG, VDA, ANSI and ISO specify the details. As the automotive industry globalizes, worldwide production of light vehicles is expected to reach around 96 million units  by 2023. This means that even a single faulty part can have an enormous impact, and therefore must be prevented at all costs.

How the RB1200 Cobot Palletiser Can Simplify Your Automation Deployment

13 April, 2022 Greater automation and collaborative robotics (cobots) are the future for many industries, including logistics. Research by BMW found humans and robots work more than well together. In fact, human-robot teams were 85% more productive than working alone.It makes sense. Combining the speed and accuracy of robotics with the flexibility and intuition of humans compounds the benefits from each to build an unbeatable team.With the RB1200 Cobot Palletiser, OMRON, in collaboration with Reeco, is bringing a revolutionary new approach to end of line palletising. Creating an easy, flexible, safe, and compact solution to getting stock palletised and ready for transport.Palletising is a task perfectly suited to automation. The simple yet repetitive and physically demanding process of getting goods stacked leads to complications when performed manually. In 2019/2020, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimated 19% of non-fatal workplace injuries were caused by handling, lifting, and carrying.Plus, given the labour shortages facing the UK and the wider world and the potential for spiralling staff costs, now is the ideal time to get your company less reliant on manual labour.While there are plenty of benefits to automating your palletising processes (greater output and accuracy, reduced labour and operational costs, etc.), its implementation also has challenges.However, with the RB1200 Cobot Palletiser, humans can collaborate with robotics on their terms, implementing a solution that fits their specific needs.

Mastering packaging and intralogistics challenges in eCommerce

24 February, 2022 Robot-assisted packaging enables fast and cost-efficient scalability upward and downward to handle swings in demands from the supply chain.

4 Steps to Optimise Manufacturing Operations Using Production Data

17 April, 2023 Bottlenecks and other production issues are the scourge of efficiency, costing businesses thousands, if not millions, a year through delays, disruptions, wasted resources, and lost output. Based on your assets (staff, equipment, facilities, etc.), what should your business be capable of producing? Most businesses have at least done a back of an envelope calculation on what their optimum output could be, if not taken the time to do a detailed analysis breaking down every process in the production chain. How far off is your actual throughput compared to the best-case scenario? In highly competitive markets with shrinking margins and a challenging economic forecast, businesses have to find ways to maximise their operations, getting as close as possible to optimal performance. They can no longer accept inefficient processes such as:Unbalanced assembly linesLong changeover timesMinor discrepancies compounding to increase the failure ratePoor equipment efficiency or extended maintenance downtimeUntrained staff slowing productionThankfully, manufacturing has come a long way. With the integration of new technologies (robotics, IoT, AI, etc.), companies can generate and track considerable production data. However, having data is just the start. To impact your operations for the better, businesses must derive actionable insights from it. Listed below are four steps to help businesses identify and resolve production issues.

3 Reasons Leasing De-Risks Investments in Robotics

17 April, 2023 With skyrocketing energy bills, supply chain chaos, high interest rates, staff shortages, and the cost of living crisis reducing consumer demand, UK businesses feel like they are being hit from all sides at the moment.The economic outlook is challenging. Rising costs are squeezing profit margins forcing companies to charge higher prices or reduce output. In fact, the UK economy is the only G7 member yet to rebound to its pre-pandemic size. Industries struggling include manufacturing, which shrank by 4% in 2022 and is expected to decline another 3.2% in 2023, and logistics, which saw low levels of new warehousing space requirements at the end of last year. Companies looking to upgrade or expand are being held back by difficult economic conditions, in particular higher borrowing costs. When credit is cheap and readily available, businesses can make significant capital expenditure (capex) investments, transforming their operations to reduce costs in the long run or increase output and boost revenue. For manufacturing and logistics companies, high interest rates reduce the viability of investing in new technologies such as collaborative robots (cobots) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). In competitive industries where productivity is key, this puts many operations at risk of falling behind the competition. Thankfully, there is another option available. OMRON offers leasing options to help businesses acquire market-leading equipment without the risks associated with capex investments during tough economic times. Leasing advanced robotic equipment provides critical financial and operational benefits for companies looking to upgrade their operations.

How Remote Connectivity can help your company through challenging economic times

27 February, 2023 What was supposed to be a period of recovery for the manufacturing industry post-pandemic has turned into anything but. Labour shortages persist, except now they’re compounded by high inflation, a looming recession, the conflict in Ukraine, and political mayhem at home. It can feel like every day brings another challenge to overcome. UK manufacturing was already at an inflection point, with businesses looking to transform their operations, introduce new technologies, and find ways to increase automation. Unfortunately, this can require an injection of capital that is harder to find at a time of financial uncertainty.As we round out 2022 with our third government of the year, we are still not sure how the new premiership of Rishi Sunak plans to solve the black hole that is the nation’s finances. But one thing is for certain, costs will rise, and UK manufacturing has a tumultuous road ahead. However, even when market conditions are tough, opportunities remain. In this blog, we will discuss the challenges of investing in new machinery, particularly given the economic outlook and how remote connectivity can help maximise its use while also minimising operational costs.

Artificial Intelligence: don’t call me stupid

08 February, 2023 Ten years ago I was quite proud of how smart the machines in our own factory were. Now, with my today’s definition of smart, I realise they were actually quite stupid.Why? Because although they were doing what they were designed to do, the minute they encountered anything unexpected or out of the ordinary they were stumped. They resorted to asking the operator ‘what is wrong with me?’.Troubleshooting and getting machines back up and running called for smart people. Highly skilled operators. Experienced software and hardware engineers. The problem is that in the last ten years, these people have become increasingly unavailable. There quite simply isn’t enough new talent entering the industry to offset the number of workers reaching retirement age. When they leave the business, retirees take with them their hard-earned on-the-job knowledge that is a culmination of years of experience. With each departing worker, businesses are faced with the prospect of a less productive and less skilled workforce. 

Solving machinery downtime challenges with remote connectivity

07 February, 2023 Manufacturing machinery is a significant investment and every minute it isn’t running is a lost opportunity for your business. Studies show that unexpected machinery downtime costs industrial manufacturers an estimated $50 billion (USD) each year, and poor maintenance strategies can reduce capacity by 5 to 20%.With money on the line, organisations require production schedules that minimise downtime while still allowing for critical maintenance to ensure safety.

The path to net zero: talking tactics

01 February, 2023 The key to unlocking a net zero future in manufacturing is transforming the value chain through automation.In June 2022, New Scientist reported that a third of the world’s largest companies had net zero targets - significantly more than the same time last year.Whilst it is positive news that momentum is accelerating, the article went on to say that the details of how companies were planning to reach net zero were patchy.Which is not surprising really. Creating and implementing a net zero strategy is a huge undertaking for any business, especially with 80% of GHG emissions falling into Scope 3 - that is emissions that occur upstream or downstream in the value chain. This is a particular challenge for FMCG companies, whose supply chains and onward logistics are long and complex.Most of these businesses know what they need to do: decarbonise and circularise the value chain. And they have a strategy for doing this, which will generally cover: optimising the use of resources and energy, replacing high emission products and processes and eliminating waste.But translating intention into action is where the main challenge lies. This is where automation has a crucial role to play.Data collection and analysis is the key to successful net zero transition. Without it, how do companies know what their starting point is, where they need to improve, whether they have improved and by how much? Robust data is the foundation for turning a commitment into change, and for credibly and confidently communicating with stakeholders and delivering on climate ambitions.

Powering through the energy and fuel crisis with automation

07 December, 2022 To counter rising prices and meet environmental targets, industrial enterprises should explore how automation technologies from a single source might help contribute to their sustainability strategy.High energy and fuel prices are putting a strain on both households and industry. Not only is the situation negatively impacting financial plans and wallets, but the excessive prices are forcing some companies to cease production. According to Make UK 42% of manufacturers surveyed said that their electricity bills have increased by 100% in the past 12 months and 32% said that gas prices have increased by over 100% in the past year. A worrying 12% of manufacturers have already made job cuts as a direct result of increased energy bills.The war in Ukraine, Covid-19 pandemic, and gas pricing are only a few of the causes of the crisis, which impacts all sectors and has an impact on everything from power prices to supply chains. What should manufacturing companies consider now? Comprehensive automation strategies are essential for greater flexibility and energy efficiency. This includes innovative robotics paired with sensor and vision technology as well as artificial intelligence – AI at the Edge. In addition, real-time data from production plants can assist with detecting anomalies and improving overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).

Riders of the storm: navigating economic uncertainty by turning social challenges into tech opportunities

06 December, 2022 One of the questions I am often asked is what our strategy is, as an industrial automation business, for maintaining stable growth in a volatile and increasingly unpredictable global economy. My answer, as you might imagine, is not one sentence, although it is rooted in one concept: SINIC. SINIC stands for ‘Seed-Innovation to Need-Impetus Cyclic Evolution’ and is a theory that was developed by OMRON's founder, Dr. Kazuma Tateisi, in 1970. According to this philosophy, science, technology and society share a cyclical relationship, mutually impacting and influencing each other. Scientific breakthroughs help society to advance and social needs spur on technological development. OMRON Europe has always followed this philosophy, and has spent the last decade laying the foundations for creating value-adding solutions to present day social and economic challenges.

Where is the future heading, intralogistics? Tips for more efficiency

15 November, 2022 Sometimes we focus so much on the big picture that we forget the smaller and yet so important processes that characterize smart production. One example is intralogistics, i.e. the flows of materials and goods that take place on a company's premises or in a production hall. A recent study found that more than 80 percent of the companies surveyed consider the increased use of AI and automation in intralogistics to be necessary to meet challenges such as the shortage of skilled workers or growth plans.Automotive companies that want to meet market and customer requirements, increase efficiency and become more sustainable must come up with new ideas. Energy costs, the gas crisis, and rising inflation make this task even more difficult. Smart factory concepts that combine innovative automation, digitalization, and smart intralogistics approaches can provide valuable support. Some speak of Industry 4.0 in this context, others of the “factory of the future”, still others prefer Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). But no matter which term you favor: The most important thing is to become active now and to rely on reliable partners. Intralogistics is a good starting point for quickly initiating change. Because action is urgently needed: many companies are currently severely limited due to the shortage of skilled workers. Modern technologies such as mobile robots can provide a remedy.

Digitalization in the automotive industry: Seven tips for smart production

02 November, 2022 If you want to grow and master crises, you have to be digitally fit – this also applies to the important automotive sector. There is no way around digital tools for addressing customers or productivity. Artificial intelligence (AI) and sustainability are key drivers and focus topics, as a study by Capgemini shows. Experts from Gartner point out the importance of open-source collaboration approaches, holistic ecosystems, and technology partnerships. But what should we look out for in digitalization and intralogistics in the production of the future? We want to answer this question in two parts. We start with tips on digitization in the smart factory. As an automation expert, OMRON has been accompanying manufacturers and suppliers on their way to more digitalization sophistication for many years.

Artificial Intelligence: hope, hype and FOMO

22 September, 2022 Ten years ago when we received enquiries about AI-based projects, they were mainly driven by hype or FOMO. When I asked why they wanted to get into AI, the answer, more often than not, was either ‘because my boss asked me to’, ‘because we have a lot of data’ or ‘because it seems like an interesting area’. None of these were particularly solid reasons and certainly didn’t justify the hefty investment that AI applications would have required at that time.That is changing, and hope, rather than hype or ‘FOMO’, is the driver. Customers don’t ask whether we can help them with AI anymore. They ask us whether we can help with predictive maintenance, quality control or process optimisation. They come to us with a problem that they want us to help solve. The adoption of AI is no longer a motive or an aim in itself. Instead, AI has become an ‘enabler’.Whatever the industry - whether food & drink, pharmaceutical, electronics or automotive - the end goal is the same: producing high quality, defect-free products at a lower cost, using less energy and less labour. And AI can be one of a suite of solutions for achieving those objectives.

Automation adapts to sustainable packaging

16 August, 2022 Have you ever ordered a small item online, and then felt incensed when it arrived in an oversized box packed out with bubble wrap, air-filled cushions or paper inserts?

Buying or Leasing? How to finance your new cobot

26 April, 2023 Food for thought for SMEs when funding automation projectsSkills shortages, digitization, sustainability, and energy-saving plans are accelerating automation projects in many companies. Once manual processes that lend themselves to automation have been identified, the next question that usually follows is: And what does it all cost?It can make sense to consider options such as leasing or robot-as-a-service. One example of tools that give small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in particular a better overview the financial aspects of automation is the ROI calculator from OMRON. Anyone currently considering the purchase of a cobot or AMR can use this tool to reveal the return on investment.

Complying with industry regulations

20 April, 2023 In the second blog in this series on Traceability we will discover how complying with industry regulations is essential in today’s manufacturing process, especially in industries like food, beverage and pharmaceutical and what the legal requirements are set out by the FSA.A lack of a comprehensive traceability system can potentially have disastrous outcomes for everyone in the supply chain, from producer to consumer. Paper does not control anything. It is just a written record, there’s no validation, and no control.In the food and beverage industry, authenticity is essential. Consumers need to know that the foods they are purchasing consist of the things listed on their labels, as food allergies and expired foods can cause serious illness and possibly death. Since both public health and consumer satisfaction depend so heavily on product integrity, the food and beverage packaging industry is highly regulated.One of the main things mandated by food and beverage regulation is “traceability” the practice of maintaining thorough records on the origins and whereabouts of products and raw materials by scanning printed barcodes, direct part marks (DPMs) or radio frequency identification (RFID) tags throughout the production process and the supply chain. From raw materials supplier to production line to supermarket to customer, the creation and distribution of a particular food item should be as transparent as possible.Food and beverage manufacturers also benefit directly from traceability protocols that minimise the occurrence and effect of costly issues such as product recalls by providing real-time data on supplier materials, processes and machinery involved in production. These protocols can significantly reduce cost of a recall by isolating tainted items and making it unnecessary to pull large amounts of non-tainted product off the shelves.Regulations are one of the primary forces spurring food and beverage manufacturers to adopt robust traceability systems. In the United Kingdom, the foremost source of regulation is the Food Standards Agency.After a number of high-profile outbreaks of food related illnesses in 2000, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) was established as an independent government department working to protect public health and consumers’ wider interests in relation to food in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.In the wake of Brexit, food and beverage regulations in the United Kingdom have changed and evolved while retaining some relevant provisions laid out in EU legislation. While Northern Ireland remains subject to EU law alone, Great Britain, Wales and Scotland fall under the provision of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) as the government organisation responsible for setting and enforcing traceability requirements.A quick reference guide published by FSA specifies that food business operators (FBOs) must maintain traceability information for suppliers and customers—equivalent to the “one step forward, one step backward” model which means they must be able to identify the businesses to which their products have been supplied and to trace food chain inputs back to the immediate supplier.

4 Steps to Optimise Manufacturing Operations Using Production Data

17 April, 2023 Bottlenecks and other production issues are the scourge of efficiency, costing businesses thousands, if not millions, a year through delays, disruptions, wasted resources, and lost output. Based on your assets (staff, equipment, facilities, etc.), what should your business be capable of producing? Most businesses have at least done a back of an envelope calculation on what their optimum output could be, if not taken the time to do a detailed analysis breaking down every process in the production chain. How far off is your actual throughput compared to the best-case scenario? In highly competitive markets with shrinking margins and a challenging economic forecast, businesses have to find ways to maximise their operations, getting as close as possible to optimal performance. They can no longer accept inefficient processes such as:Unbalanced assembly linesLong changeover timesMinor discrepancies compounding to increase the failure ratePoor equipment efficiency or extended maintenance downtimeUntrained staff slowing productionThankfully, manufacturing has come a long way. With the integration of new technologies (robotics, IoT, AI, etc.), companies can generate and track considerable production data. However, having data is just the start. To impact your operations for the better, businesses must derive actionable insights from it. Listed below are four steps to help businesses identify and resolve production issues.

3 Reasons Leasing De-Risks Investments in Robotics

17 April, 2023 With skyrocketing energy bills, supply chain chaos, high interest rates, staff shortages, and the cost of living crisis reducing consumer demand, UK businesses feel like they are being hit from all sides at the moment.The economic outlook is challenging. Rising costs are squeezing profit margins forcing companies to charge higher prices or reduce output. In fact, the UK economy is the only G7 member yet to rebound to its pre-pandemic size. Industries struggling include manufacturing, which shrank by 4% in 2022 and is expected to decline another 3.2% in 2023, and logistics, which saw low levels of new warehousing space requirements at the end of last year. Companies looking to upgrade or expand are being held back by difficult economic conditions, in particular higher borrowing costs. When credit is cheap and readily available, businesses can make significant capital expenditure (capex) investments, transforming their operations to reduce costs in the long run or increase output and boost revenue. For manufacturing and logistics companies, high interest rates reduce the viability of investing in new technologies such as collaborative robots (cobots) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). In competitive industries where productivity is key, this puts many operations at risk of falling behind the competition. Thankfully, there is another option available. OMRON offers leasing options to help businesses acquire market-leading equipment without the risks associated with capex investments during tough economic times. Leasing advanced robotic equipment provides critical financial and operational benefits for companies looking to upgrade their operations.

Accelerating socially driven innovation

28 March, 2023 Society is built on cultural norms and values that shape how people think, behave, and interact with each other. These cultural factors can influence everything from consumer preferences and business practices to political beliefs, which in turn affect how manufacturing evolves.Manufacturing is one of the most important sectors of any economy, yet in the UK it can fairly claim to be underrated - despite our being the world’s 9th largest manufacturing nation. According to MAKE UK research, manufacturing provides 2.7 million jobs, has an annual output of £191 billion, and offers wages 13% higher, on average, than the rest of the economy.The sector also has a multiplier effect which extends far beyond the jobs and wealth it creates directly, supporting the growth of other industries and creating a positive cycle of economic growth - boosting the overall productivity of the country and improving lives. 

How Remote Connectivity can help your company through challenging economic times

27 February, 2023 What was supposed to be a period of recovery for the manufacturing industry post-pandemic has turned into anything but. Labour shortages persist, except now they’re compounded by high inflation, a looming recession, the conflict in Ukraine, and political mayhem at home. It can feel like every day brings another challenge to overcome. UK manufacturing was already at an inflection point, with businesses looking to transform their operations, introduce new technologies, and find ways to increase automation. Unfortunately, this can require an injection of capital that is harder to find at a time of financial uncertainty.As we round out 2022 with our third government of the year, we are still not sure how the new premiership of Rishi Sunak plans to solve the black hole that is the nation’s finances. But one thing is for certain, costs will rise, and UK manufacturing has a tumultuous road ahead. However, even when market conditions are tough, opportunities remain. In this blog, we will discuss the challenges of investing in new machinery, particularly given the economic outlook and how remote connectivity can help maximise its use while also minimising operational costs.

Artificial Intelligence: don’t call me stupid

08 February, 2023 Ten years ago I was quite proud of how smart the machines in our own factory were. Now, with my today’s definition of smart, I realise they were actually quite stupid.Why? Because although they were doing what they were designed to do, the minute they encountered anything unexpected or out of the ordinary they were stumped. They resorted to asking the operator ‘what is wrong with me?’.Troubleshooting and getting machines back up and running called for smart people. Highly skilled operators. Experienced software and hardware engineers. The problem is that in the last ten years, these people have become increasingly unavailable. There quite simply isn’t enough new talent entering the industry to offset the number of workers reaching retirement age. When they leave the business, retirees take with them their hard-earned on-the-job knowledge that is a culmination of years of experience. With each departing worker, businesses are faced with the prospect of a less productive and less skilled workforce. 

How to speed up cobot integration

08 February, 2023 Good planning and strong partners help SMEs overcome hurdles in automation.Collaborative robots, also known as cobots, are enjoying great popularity because they make it possible to automate time-consuming and resource-intensive tasks. The global market for collaborative robots is currently estimated at around $1.2 billion. The sales volume of cobots reached a total of 32,300 units in 2021. Especially in times when it is becoming increasingly difficult for companies to find and retain suitable employees, such technologies are worth their weight in gold in many places. Speaking of gold, some may ask: Cobots must be extremely expensive, right? When does such an investment pay off?Automation expert OMRON would like to alleviate such worries, especially for small and medium-sized companies: Smart and integrated robotics solutions as well as cobots and mobile robots are feasible and affordable. For those who want to estimate the return on investment, OMRON’s ROI calculator provides a quick and easy overview.Cobots and autonomous mobile robots (AMR) are suitable for both SMEs and large-scale businesses. They perform tasks such as transport, palletizing, loading and unloading of machines, assembly, painting, or welding. They can be quickly and flexibly retooled and also programmed by non-experts. Material replenishment can be streamlined with AMRs, and machine and process loading with cobots. However, to successfully carry out such projects and accelerate robot integration, know-how and partners who are familiar with the subject matter are needed. And above all, employees must be informed and involved from the start of the project to be part of the change together.Here are some tips companies should keep in mind when integrating cobots:

Solving machinery downtime challenges with remote connectivity

07 February, 2023 Manufacturing machinery is a significant investment and every minute it isn’t running is a lost opportunity for your business. Studies show that unexpected machinery downtime costs industrial manufacturers an estimated $50 billion (USD) each year, and poor maintenance strategies can reduce capacity by 5 to 20%.With money on the line, organisations require production schedules that minimise downtime while still allowing for critical maintenance to ensure safety.

Where is the future heading, intralogistics? Tips for more efficiency

15 November, 2022 Sometimes we focus so much on the big picture that we forget the smaller and yet so important processes that characterize smart production. One example is intralogistics, i.e. the flows of materials and goods that take place on a company's premises or in a production hall. A recent study found that more than 80 percent of the companies surveyed consider the increased use of AI and automation in intralogistics to be necessary to meet challenges such as the shortage of skilled workers or growth plans.Automotive companies that want to meet market and customer requirements, increase efficiency and become more sustainable must come up with new ideas. Energy costs, the gas crisis, and rising inflation make this task even more difficult. Smart factory concepts that combine innovative automation, digitalization, and smart intralogistics approaches can provide valuable support. Some speak of Industry 4.0 in this context, others of the “factory of the future”, still others prefer Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). But no matter which term you favor: The most important thing is to become active now and to rely on reliable partners. Intralogistics is a good starting point for quickly initiating change. Because action is urgently needed: many companies are currently severely limited due to the shortage of skilled workers. Modern technologies such as mobile robots can provide a remedy.

Artificial Intelligence: hope, hype and FOMO

22 September, 2022 Ten years ago when we received enquiries about AI-based projects, they were mainly driven by hype or FOMO. When I asked why they wanted to get into AI, the answer, more often than not, was either ‘because my boss asked me to’, ‘because we have a lot of data’ or ‘because it seems like an interesting area’. None of these were particularly solid reasons and certainly didn’t justify the hefty investment that AI applications would have required at that time.That is changing, and hope, rather than hype or ‘FOMO’, is the driver. Customers don’t ask whether we can help them with AI anymore. They ask us whether we can help with predictive maintenance, quality control or process optimisation. They come to us with a problem that they want us to help solve. The adoption of AI is no longer a motive or an aim in itself. Instead, AI has become an ‘enabler’.Whatever the industry - whether food & drink, pharmaceutical, electronics or automotive - the end goal is the same: producing high quality, defect-free products at a lower cost, using less energy and less labour. And AI can be one of a suite of solutions for achieving those objectives.

How the RB1200 Cobot Palletiser Can Simplify Your Automation Deployment

13 April, 2022 Greater automation and collaborative robotics (cobots) are the future for many industries, including logistics. Research by BMW found humans and robots work more than well together. In fact, human-robot teams were 85% more productive than working alone.It makes sense. Combining the speed and accuracy of robotics with the flexibility and intuition of humans compounds the benefits from each to build an unbeatable team.With the RB1200 Cobot Palletiser, OMRON, in collaboration with Reeco, is bringing a revolutionary new approach to end of line palletising. Creating an easy, flexible, safe, and compact solution to getting stock palletised and ready for transport.Palletising is a task perfectly suited to automation. The simple yet repetitive and physically demanding process of getting goods stacked leads to complications when performed manually. In 2019/2020, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimated 19% of non-fatal workplace injuries were caused by handling, lifting, and carrying.Plus, given the labour shortages facing the UK and the wider world and the potential for spiralling staff costs, now is the ideal time to get your company less reliant on manual labour.While there are plenty of benefits to automating your palletising processes (greater output and accuracy, reduced labour and operational costs, etc.), its implementation also has challenges.However, with the RB1200 Cobot Palletiser, humans can collaborate with robotics on their terms, implementing a solution that fits their specific needs.

The path to net zero: talking tactics

01 February, 2023 The key to unlocking a net zero future in manufacturing is transforming the value chain through automation.In June 2022, New Scientist reported that a third of the world’s largest companies had net zero targets - significantly more than the same time last year.Whilst it is positive news that momentum is accelerating, the article went on to say that the details of how companies were planning to reach net zero were patchy.Which is not surprising really. Creating and implementing a net zero strategy is a huge undertaking for any business, especially with 80% of GHG emissions falling into Scope 3 - that is emissions that occur upstream or downstream in the value chain. This is a particular challenge for FMCG companies, whose supply chains and onward logistics are long and complex.Most of these businesses know what they need to do: decarbonise and circularise the value chain. And they have a strategy for doing this, which will generally cover: optimising the use of resources and energy, replacing high emission products and processes and eliminating waste.But translating intention into action is where the main challenge lies. This is where automation has a crucial role to play.Data collection and analysis is the key to successful net zero transition. Without it, how do companies know what their starting point is, where they need to improve, whether they have improved and by how much? Robust data is the foundation for turning a commitment into change, and for credibly and confidently communicating with stakeholders and delivering on climate ambitions.

Riders of the storm: navigating economic uncertainty by turning social challenges into tech opportunities

06 December, 2022 One of the questions I am often asked is what our strategy is, as an industrial automation business, for maintaining stable growth in a volatile and increasingly unpredictable global economy. My answer, as you might imagine, is not one sentence, although it is rooted in one concept: SINIC. SINIC stands for ‘Seed-Innovation to Need-Impetus Cyclic Evolution’ and is a theory that was developed by OMRON's founder, Dr. Kazuma Tateisi, in 1970. According to this philosophy, science, technology and society share a cyclical relationship, mutually impacting and influencing each other. Scientific breakthroughs help society to advance and social needs spur on technological development. OMRON Europe has always followed this philosophy, and has spent the last decade laying the foundations for creating value-adding solutions to present day social and economic challenges.

Digitalization in the automotive industry: Seven tips for smart production

02 November, 2022 If you want to grow and master crises, you have to be digitally fit – this also applies to the important automotive sector. There is no way around digital tools for addressing customers or productivity. Artificial intelligence (AI) and sustainability are key drivers and focus topics, as a study by Capgemini shows. Experts from Gartner point out the importance of open-source collaboration approaches, holistic ecosystems, and technology partnerships. But what should we look out for in digitalization and intralogistics in the production of the future? We want to answer this question in two parts. We start with tips on digitization in the smart factory. As an automation expert, OMRON has been accompanying manufacturers and suppliers on their way to more digitalization sophistication for many years.

Fuel for the future: What to look out for in fuel cell production

10 March, 2022 When people talk about sustainable mobility, the first thing that comes to mind is battery-powered e-cars. Fuel cells or direct hydrogen burners are complementary technologies that often fade into the background, yet have a lot to offer when it comes to CO₂ reduction and market options.

Green packaging industry: How to achieve sustainable manufacturing

09 February, 2022 Sustainability in the packaging industry is one of the key aspects in fighting the plastic waste issue and ultimately climate change. The challenges that this presents, require flexible and powerful automation technology.

Fuelling the success of local battery cell production

20 September, 2021 Expert and automotive manufacturers alike agree that e-mobility is the future. Batteries and battery manufacturing are central to this development. In this context, the global market for lithium-ion batteries is expected to grow from 44.2 billion US dollars (2020) to 94.4 billion dollars (2025). The transformation of the automotive industry from internal combustion engines to battery or hydrogen-powered fuel cells is presenting companies with immense challenges.

Plastics in consumer goods manufacturing: Seven automation tips for greener packaging

29 April, 2021 Hygiene or environmental protection? Preferably both! Companies in the consumer goods industry are increasingly asking themselves what alternatives they have to plastic packaging and how they can act greener, more efficiently, and yet still safely. Innovative packaging lines, robotics and artificial intelligence offer support.

Powering the European automotive industry

29 January, 2021 The European automotive industry is facing strong competition from Asia, as well as the economic challenges of the pandemic. It needs to develop innovative, future-proof strategies and technologies that will boost both efficiency and sustainability. Tony Seba from Stanford University believes that by 2025, no more new vehicles with (pure) combustion engines will be sold and there will be a move towards battery or hydrogen-powered fuel cells. Meanwhile, the industry faces falling sales, increasingly strict emissions regulations, new technologies, digitisation and changing consumer needs. Companies must respond by converting their production lines; becoming more agile; and introducing innovations that provide a competitive edge.

Moving to e-mobility: seven tips for success

08 September, 2020 The automotive industry throughout Europe is changing. It’s been badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, which has exacerbated declining sales. And there have been other problems. For instance, the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) forecasts that German vehicle manufacturers and suppliers could lose a quarter of their total workforce by 2030. A similarly gloomy picture is also emerging in the UK. Offsetting this is a growing demand for electric cars, which could lead to many new jobs being created.

Zero-defect philosophy helps resolve the world’s future issues

05 June, 2020 Imagine the city center of a modern metropolis in 2030: a multitude of unmanned, electrically-powered vehicles driving swiftly and silently through the streets. These vehicles sense traffic lights and other road signs and make decisions using artificial intelligence. They avoid people, who unexpectedly cross their path. They detect and avoid dangerous situations before they occur. And they contribute to everyone’s health and safety. But what happens if the associated electrical systems fail? Omron is already addressing this problem today.

Energizing European battery cell production

01 May, 2020 What can European automotive companies do to future-proof their production lines, especially in relation to battery manufacturing? Robotics, automated quality control and artificial intelligence (AI) can help companies to tackle the strong competition they are facing from Asia.

Integrated data control, motion control and machine vision for next-generation automotive production line

24 April, 2020 The Mexican regional headquarters of a leading manufacturer of premium air brake actuators for global on-highway and specialty markets required a new automated production assembly line. One of the company’s key performance indicators is to deliver a fully assembled product every 30 seconds, and it is with this end goal at the forefront that the team started the process of automating the production line.