As India strives to keep pace in the country’s ever-evolving industrial landscape, automation in manufacturing industry is not a far-off vision but a current need. From cottage industries to larger production units, automation is transforming how products are manufactured, scaling businesses, and attaining competitive advantage in global markets. This post discusses how and why India is adopting the change, what technologies are enabling it, and its effects on the manufacturers and employees for years to come.
What Is Automation in Manufacturing Industry?
Automation in manufacturing industry means having machinery like computers alongside robots and modern tech applications such as AI systems to control production robots, which perform tasks with less human guidance. The Internet of Things (IoT) plays heavily in automated systems today. Classifying AI-led machines and robotics, along with control systems, into relevant segments exhibits a level of ease with multitasking. Primarily, its objectives serve precision accuracy when reducing the errors flagged while trying to keep quality optimally intact throughout processes.
In India, the rising employment costs and the higher demand from international industries seeking norm-compliant precision are driving the adoption of industrial automation, along with an increase in competitive quality assurance.
The Rise of Industrial Automation in India
India has accelerated the use of industrial automation in India tech over the past decade. There is an increase in foreign investment and technology in manufacturing due to the government’s “Make in India” plan, as well as policies on foreign investments and strategies revolving around Industry 4.0.
Key Contributors:
Automotive sector: Tata Motors and Maruti Suzuki are increasing automation investment with robotic assembly lines.
Pharmaceuticals: Precision and safety standards are encouraging greater use of automation technology within processes.
Textiles & Garments: Reduction of work turnaround time through automated looms and dyeing machines.
Electronics: The use of robotics ensures consistent miniaturization during chip production and board assembly.
Smart Manufacturing in India: The Digital Leap
Smart manufacturing in India: Digital data analytics, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence systems define smart manufacturing in India. Aside from machine operation, smart factories can self-diagnose problems, forecast additional production units needed, and allocate resources efficiently, all in real time!
Characteristics of Smart Manufacturing:
- Predictive maintenance with IoT sensors
- Real-time monitoring through ERP and MES systems
- AI-driven quality control
- Remote operations using digital twins: Advantages of Automation in Industries
The advantages of automation in manufacturing industry extend across multiple levels, triggering a chain reaction that enhances operational efficiency, cost-effectiveness, safety, quality, and scalability.
Benefits of Automation in Industry
The positive benefits of automation in industry extend well past just improving efficiency. It has a cascading impact on safety, costs, scalability, quality, and even the workings of the entire organization.
Primary Benefits:
- Increased productivity: Automation ensures productivity is always higher, as machines can work around the clock with no breaks.
- Improved Safety: Increases workplace safety by minimizing accidents at work, especially for dangerous jobs.
- Quality Control: Ensured consistent, defect-reduced output due to automation.
- Cost Efficiency: Primarily cuts down operational costs in the long run because of lack of human error and minimized waste.
- Energy Efficiency: Smart systems control and optimize energy consumption.
- Scalability: Facilitates easy production increases in response to spikes in demand without hiring additional employees or taking time to train them.
Robotics in Manufacturing Industry: A Game Changer
The impact of robotics in manufacturing industry is shifting operations in all sectors. With automation in manufacturing industry, machines execute precise, repetitive tasks, reducing human fatigue and significantly cutting down production time.
Types of Robots Used:
- Assembly Robots: For electronic components and automotive parts.
- Material Handling Robots: Move products within the facility across different locations.
- Welding Robots: Used widely for metal fabrication & vehicle manufacturing weld operations.
- Painting robots: Used for applying uniform and secure coatings on automobile units.
Indian startups like Systemantics and GreyOrange are rapidly gaining recognition for their affordable robots designed for SMEs.
Challenges in Automation Adoption
India has roadblocks when it comes to using automation in manufacturing industry; however, there is an abundance of advantages that automation offers.
Primary Concerns:
- Considerable Upfront Cost: Automation technology is beyond the budget of many SMEs.
- Limited Available Labor: There is a shortage of professionals with technical capabilities and relevant experience.
- Geographic Restrictions: Power supply issues and reliable internet access often plague areas outside cities.
- Reluctance to Adapt: Industries that have operated manually for years tend to shy away from adopting new technologies and methods.
Policy frameworks, training initiatives, and subsidized tech solutions that provide long-term assistance will address these areas.
The Future of Industrial Automation in India
The future of industrial automation in India is promising. As technology becomes cheaper and more widely available, experts anticipate deeper penetration into rural regions and Tier-2 cities.
Future Trends to Watch:
- AI and machine-learning integration
- Collaborative robotics (Cobots) alongside humans
- Smart factories powered by 5G
- Voice-operated Devices
- Innovations driven by sustainability, Green Automation
With increasing global aspirations, businesses will be required to adopt automation rather than using it at their discretion.
Case Study: Brass Component Manufacturing Gets Smart
The brass industry has already embraced automation in manufacturing industry, driving innovations aimed at higher accuracy and greater manufacturing output.
The example illustrates
Brass electrical components incorporate CNC machine-cut precision contours now.
Robotic Arms Aid in the Casting Process of Brass Forgings
Machinery cuts down on the time needed to make brass precision parts and brass fasteners, which helps improve their accuracy and reliability.
The production of even T-fittings incorporates advanced smart casting techniques. You can read about it in this blog: Applications of Brass T Fittings.
How Is Brass Manufactured Using Automation?
Brass-manufactured components reveal how brass is manufactured and what were once manual processes are streamlined through automation. Processes such as melting, casting, shaping, and polishing previously relied heavily on labor forces. Now, such processes can be streamlined through
- Precision casting with CNC-assisted molds
- Automated alloy composition controls
- The surface treatment and polishing processes are performed using robotic arms.
- Automated quality checks for uniformity and performance
This ensures consistent quality and shorter production cycles in brass fittings and components.
Conclusion: Automation Is the Future
India currently stands at a crucial moment for incorporating automation in manufacturing industry, from assembly line robotic arms to AI inspection systems.
Despite the unresolved issues, the untapped potential of automation in manufacturing industry will drive significant progress. Whether you’re a lean startup aiming to streamline workflows or a long-established factory adapting to change, embracing automated systems is essential. Contact us today to explore customized automation solutions for your operations.
Whether you choose to lead or follow in the era of intelligent manufacturing remains a question.