How often do you feel as though there’s not enough time in the day to get everything on your to-do list done? Probably pretty often, and you’re not the only person to feel that way. In fact, that’s a common complaint from job shops and manufacturers. With high demand, limited resources, and only 8 hours in the work day, it can be difficult to achieve production goals. The idea of a lights out factory aims to solve this problem, but requires a bit of help from machine tending robots.
At a glance, lights out factories utilize automation and advanced manufacturing technologies to significantly limit the amount of downtime in production while reducing the need for intervention. The result? Optimized factory settings and significantly enhanced production. But, to achieve these goals, job shops and factories need the right tools in place.
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A lights out factory is a manufacturing facility designed to operate fully autonomously without the need for intervention from operators, allowing production to continue 24/7. In these highly automated environments, all or most production activities are performed by machines, robotic systems, and AI-driven technology, enabling the factory to operate even after regular hours or on weekends without the need for operators.
“Lights out” refers to the idea that these factories can run around the clock, without the need for lights since machines will be tackling the work. Of course, this type of total automation is seen as a long term goal and requires significant planning before being able to transition to an entirely automated production.
This degree of automation is more than just an idea, however. All over the world, lights out factories are finding success. For instance, Philips has a factory in the Netherlands that runs a lights out operation. For over 100 robots creating electric razors, there are only a handful of quality assurance workers.
As new technologies are being implemented in factories, dreams of a lights out factory might not be that far out of reach for job shops. To accomplish this goal, automated machine tending solutions play a central role in lights out factories, especially for job shops looking to boost their productivity and gain a competitive edge in high-mix productions.
Machines running continuously, high production of precise parts, and essentially no risk of injuries in a factory setting. Sounds pretty great, right? Like any automated process, there are pros and cons. So, if lights out manufacturing is a goal for your job shop, the benefits are excellent, but that doesn’t mean there are some considerations to be aware of.
Lights out manufacturing offers a range of advantages for modern factories, including:
Lights out manufacturing isn’t ideal for every business. There are notable challenges and limitations to be mindful of, including:
In order to successfully execute lights out manufacturing, the equipment used must be able to run autonomously. In addition to cloud computing and industrial IoT, machine tending robots are essential for continuous production. These robots are designed to load and unload parts into machines like CNC mills or lathes, handling repetitive tasks that are vital for production but typically labor-intensive.
One of the primary contributions of machine tending robots to lights out manufacturing is their role in improving efficiency and reducing downtime. Equipped with advanced sensors, these robots can handle parts precisely, aligning them perfectly and loading them into machines with minimal error. And, once parts are processed, these robots unload and organize finished components, readying them for further assembly, packaging, or shipping.
In some factory settings, operators are needed to change out workholdings or adjust end of arm tooling (EOAT). Instead, and in order to achieve a lights out status, machine tending robots help streamline changeovers by quickly adjusting to different parts or product lines. By programming robots to accommodate different sizes, shapes, and orientations, manufacturers can reduce the setup time between runs, making it possible to automate even high-mix, low-volume production lines more effectively and run multiple jobs without the assistance of an operator.
This autonomy ensures that factories can maintain high levels of productivity and throughput, even during nights, weekends, or holidays, allowing companies to maximize their machine utilization rates and meet demanding production schedules. Plus, the consistency achieved with machine tending robots is essential in industries where precision and quality are crucial, ensuring that lights out manufacturing can meet the same standards as traditional production methods.
As we continue to embrace Industry 4.0, automated machine tending is a critical component of accomplishing smart manufacturing goals. With these advanced robotics, along with artificial intelligence, machine learning, and IoT-enabled devices, lights out manufacturing creates a self-sustaining workflow where machines can communicate, self-monitor, and even predict and prevent potential issues before they occur. This level of automation, ultimately, allows for factories to achieve the highest possible machine utilization.
Additionally, the increase in automation that we’re currently experiencing is central to the movement toward optimized efficiency in Industry 4.0, as it minimizes human error, reduces downtime, and maximizes resource use. Automated manufacturing technology, such as machine tending robots and smart sensors, continuously gathers and analyzes data to provide real-time insights into equipment health, production metrics, and quality control.
This data-driven approach helps manufacturers make quick, informed decisions, keeping production running smoothly and adjusting processes to maintain optimal efficiency. In essence, lights out factories use automation not only to streamline production but to create a self-optimizing system that can adapt to variables, ensuring high-quality output with minimal intervention.
Fully autonomous manufacturing doesn’t happen overnight. But, there are some ways to begin automating manufacturing processes as factories work toward a complete lights out manufacturing structure. The first step is incorporating automation among processes that are repetitive, including machine tending.
Fortunately, job shops can easily automate their CNC machines with the addition of machine tending robots. These technologies, when applied to CNC machines, streamline the repetitive and time consuming process of loading raw materials and unloading finished parts. Instead of relying on operators for this task, the machines do all of the work. Plus, they don’t require breaks.
Automation Within Reach has several machine tending solutions to help job shops introduce automation into their production processes. From drawer cells and rotary cells to mill tending solutions with multiple loading options, we can help bring flexible automation into your manufacturing business.
To learn more about our various machine tending options, reach out to an automation expert today!