Each device in the automation arena has an important task to perform. All the devices are required to perform efficiently and get the job done as effectively as possible. There is, however, an order of precedence in all manufacturing automation equipment. This precedence is established based on the importance of the equipment to the overall functioning of the manufacturing that is to be done. There are certain types of manufacturing automation equipment that are absolutely required in order for automation to be executed at all. There are other types of manufacturing automation equipment that have importance to the overall completion of some part of the automation to be done, but there are substitute devices that can perform the task of this given machine, if need be. Sometimes the use of an alternative device for completing an automation task may be more or less optimal that the ability of the device for which a substitution has been made. There are other devices that should not be included in the production mix, but somehow they end up included because these devices were observed in another production line where they were working effectively.
The controller that is used in a system of manufacturing automation equipment may be by default considered to one of those types of equipment that has the highest precedence in the scale of importance of equipment used. The main reason for this is the fact that the controller is necessary for the completion of automation tasks. There may be one or more controllers in a system of manufacturing automation equipment. Each one of these would be considered of highest precedence in its particular functional area. Each controller is connected to one or more automation devices to which it sends instructions about the performance of automation tasks that need to be done. The only way that these connected devices can function correctly is if they get the correct instructions in the correct order and at the correct time. Beside issuing pertinent instructions the controller also acts to connect all the devices that are in the automation scenario together. By making this connection the controller can coordinate all the automation tasks that are performed by the devices that are under its command. If some part of the equipment sends an error back after attempting to perform a given task, the controller can evaluate that error and make adjustments to the instructions that it sends to other devices as a result. A lot of people like to call the controller a “traffic cop”, it is in control and will adjust the entire process as it sees fit.
There are some kinds of automation devices that have important tasks, but they have devices that can take their place in production and perform their automation tasks just as they do. These alternative machines may do the job more or less optimally than the original device. Cost may be a major variable in the selection of one device over another to perform a certain automation task. Speed, compatibility or utility may also be variables that could impact the selection of one device over another. To illustrate this concept you might consider the packaging task that has to be done in the automation phase of production. There are obviously a lot of different types of packaging automation devices that could be included in this production line. This product must be put into shrink wrap before it is placed into a carton for shipping. The requirement of shrink wrapping will eliminate many competitive devices that can perform the packaging phase of production. Only those devices that can effectively perform shrink wrapping can be considered for this position in the production line. There are also a lot of devices that could insert the shrink wrapped product into the carton, but as seen before only certain devices will be compatible with the size, shape and weight of the product.
The importance of the shrink wrapping and placing products into cartons is at a high level and the production cannot be completed without these tasks being completed properly, but there are alternative devices that can take the place of each of these. The replacements may not be optimal solutions for these positions in the production line, so each device that is placed there should be evaluated with cost, capability, and compatibility. These will be excellent guides that will contribute to the right selection of equipment to get the job done efficiently.
At the bottom end of the scale of importance there may be automation devices that are added to the production line that contribute little to the efficiency of overall production. These devices may be added to the production mix based on the usefulness of such a device in another automation situation. However, the device may not contribute to the production objectives of the current manufacturing requirements. It is important for each device that is put into the production mix be evaluated against a cost, compatibility, and contribution standard that has been established in the planning phase before the automation installation. It is not advised to include devices that do not meet the planning requirements for the automation project. Each device should contribute to the overall optimization of manufacturing.
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