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IIoT Automation- When's the Right Time to Invest in Automation?

Guest Writer

- Last Updated: November 25, 2024

Guest Writer

- Last Updated: November 25, 2024

6 Steps to Bring Clarity to Industrial IoT (IIoT) Automation

The allure of process automation is growing as it becomes more attainable and affordable. In the past, owning a sleek robot to assemble widgets at high speeds was as likely as having a Lamborghini sitting in your garage. But, today, automated solutions are as numerous and dependable as family sedans. Automation can provide a practical, robust and long-term solution. But, how do you know when and where to upgrade?

A good process for determining this will include the following six steps.

Begin Without Limits

1. Start with a Pie-in-the-Sky List

Make a list of ways you would automate if you had unlimited funds. The answer “everything” isn't detailed enough. Really consider why you would automate, and what benefits the automation would bring. The “why” is especially important to the specification. Sometimes automation is viewed as the “easy” fix to problems that can and should be addressed in other ways.

Think of the process like you would when specifying your dream car. Your wish list would be long and detailed. You would pick out everything from the custom intake to the finish on the dash. Treat your automation project the same way.

2. Find the “How”

Systems integrators and automation engineers are experts in what can be accomplished reliably, using today’s technology and control systems. They can help guide you through the next step, which involves determining the actual monetary costs and benefits of automated solutions. You know what you need to automate; they know what the automation process requires.

Justify the Project; Quantify Benefits

3. Prove It

The third step is to take the most important pieces of your dream IIoT automation plan and prove or disprove the long-term financial benefits. Make sure that you can justify the costs of each automation need. For example, does the speed and production volume of your packaging line justify an automated packing station? Would manual packing operations be more financially suitable and better matched to your production needs?

Another consideration is the complexity of what you're trying to automate. A large percentage of the automation costs is based on the number of tasks the system must perform. Conveying product and cases, for example, is one task that's easy and cheap to automate. Assembling and printing a multi-part package where the machine must measure, rotate, count, index and assemble is going to be complex (and much more expensive to automate).

Machines aren't human beings and must be programmed and designed. When raw material variability, multi-axis coordination and placement are involved, the machine must consistently handle these tasks with a high degree of reliability. How many moving parts are involved? How quickly must the task be performed? How many different packages or stock-keeping unit (SKU) numbers are the machine required to run? The answers to these questions can drive up the cost of automation.

When proving the value, use actual numbers. Try to assign a monetary amount to how much you can save versus how much you will spend to automate. What's my return on investment (ROI) and does it meet my company’s requirements? A big cost factor will be the speed of the line or process—does the increase in the output (or products you can sell) justify the automation expense?

Factor in as many differences as you can determine: the cost of interruptions to existing operations for automated upgrades, manual labor expenses, differences in upkeep costs, spare part costs, operator/maintenance training costs and scrap costs, for example. Use a long-term view when trying to measure these costs, and determine your automation “break-even” point. How long will your automated line have to run to pay for the automation upgrade?

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Practical Example

Always look for the greatest impact at the lowest cost when prioritizing when and where to automate. Determine the functions to automate, how difficult automation would be and the costs versus the benefits. An example set of considerations for a packaging line is below:

You can prioritize automation tasks based on this chart. A few observations you might make:

There are several low cost-to-automate functions that could quickly improve line speed. Case erection and case sealing are good examples. These options might be good first stage improvements.
Consider where in the line these opportunities exist. Palletizing is an end-of-the-line function. It won't have much effect on product output on a given day. Do you need to automate it?
Some of the more complicated tasks might not be worth automating yet. Bundle packing is a good example. Bundle packing involves bringing multiple products together, orienting the product, and shrinking a sleeve around the entire arrangement. This is going to be a complicated process to automate. Conversely, do you have the space required for a hand-pack station? Are workers able to hand-pack at a pace that meets your output requirements? Bundle packing is a mid-stream operation and could become the rate-limiter for the line.
Some things are worth automating because of the increase in line-speed they afford. For example, filling or case packing can greatly increase speed. Does the increase in the number of products justify the expense of automating these pieces?

Essential Elements

4. Determine Your Backbone

For anyone looking at an automated solution, there's an essential base level of controls that must exist to make the rest possible. What is the essential base of automation for your project? Determine the basic automated structures that must exist and consider those your backbone. An experienced integrator will determine these needs and provide room for future growth at a reasonable cost.

Many automation projects move forward in stages. The backbone automation is the first stage—and maybe the only automation work you do in year one. You can spread the costs of automation by establishing this base and adding on as you move forward. Assembly could stay manual while the controls backbone is installed and the conveying is automated. Develop a timeline for the major pieces, planning future upgrades.

Don’t Overlook Safety and Compliance

5. Safety and Compliance Matters

Automation is a great way to improve overall safety and compliance and generally brings a greater measure of reliability than human beings. Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) systems, machine guards, light curtains and other safety measures can be easily added. Safety practices and compliance measures must be a part of your plan.

Depending on the safety measures you will be using, the financial implications of safety systems vary. This is an area where an automation consultant can help. Automation constantly changes, and your process might change your required safety standards.

Enzyme use in consumer products manufacturing is an example of how safety can impact an automation project. Enzymes used in manufacturing can become a problem when used in large amounts. Increasing the volume of your production with automation might mean that you must account for these elevated levels of enzymes. Is an HVAC system necessary? Do workers need to wear PPE? Are room modifications required?

Will automation make your process inherently more dangerous? Are there points on the line where automation isn't safe? Strategically choosing to require an operator to manually shut off a valve is an example. This feature ensures that the line operator must physically check the production line in specified intervals. This is an additional check for safety.

Sometimes compliance is a reason to automate. Your industry may suddenly require companies to ensure the absence of metal or foreign objects present in products. Costs of compliance would be an operational cost, as you must comply to stay in business. In many cases, automation can often provide superior reliability and speed over manual solutions.

Think You’re Finished?

6. Reduce, Review and Revise

Go back over your entire plan. Automation isn't a stand-alone element. Usually, there are civil upgrades, logistical requirements, ergonomic considerations, equipment purchases and labor costs associated with it.

Are there areas outside of IIoT Automation where costs can be reduced? For example, are stainless tanks required, or will plastic tanks meet your needs? Do your civil and mechanical upgrades match your automation stages in terms of scope and timing? Consider the whole project, not just the automation part. Reducing your civil and mechanical scope may allow more automation up front.

Going through this entire thought process will help you develop a comprehensive automation strategy that considers costs, timeline and benefits. Much like car shopping, first, separate the wants from the needs and take a practical look at what’s possible. Once you decide to automate, it is a long-term commitment that will positively impact your business for years to come. Time invested up front will result in a much better automation solution for you and peace-of-mind moving forward.

Written by Michael Riehn, CMO of EPIC Industrial Systems