Tuesday, April 22, 2014

The Ins And Outs Of Plant Automation

By Essie Osborn


In the later stages of the industrial revolution, the spiraling wage bill and cost of production forced manufacturers to consider all the alternatives. Automating processes was seen as one of the best ways of dealing with the ever-increasing wage bill. In plant automation, machines are controlled by programmed computers, not individual machine operators. Currently, the number of companies that are automating their plants is increasing at a very fast rate.

Process control in automated plans is automatic, and independent of humans. This process is highly advantageous because the human element has been eliminated. Computer programs control the operation of machines on a daily basis and can even run for weeks without stopping. This leads to increased production.

The ultimate goal of any firm or industry is to maximize profits by minimizing labor costs through reduction of machine operators and supervisors. This is easily achieved through automation, or replacement of human labor with machines and sophisticated computer programs. This is beneficial in that it minimizes production costs. This can lead to increased wages for employees and more profits for shareholders.

Industries in Hudson, WI, can have their machines automated using PLCs (programmable logic controllers). PLCs are industry specific computers which can be programmed with special instructions like switching on and off of motors, solenoid valves and other actuators. These controllers vary in size, processing power and functionality, and this is what determines their possible applications.

Plants can be controlled using SCADA. This is similar to a PLC, but there is a central computer and field modules that take-in the inputs and give out the output signals. The acronym SCADA stands for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition. This system is very powerful and can be used to run huge plants like vehicle assembly from a control room.

The cost of automating a factory may seem like too much, or even unsustainable. However, the capital investment can be recouped in a couple of years. Therefore, the high cost should not be a discouragement. The process of upgrading a factory starts with acquisition of all the essential equipment, installation works, programming of the industrial computers, calibration and commissioning of the plant. To make the process run smoothly and safely, several technicians and maybe one or two engineers may be required.

Automating plants is not an easy or cheap undertaking, but it is necessary. Gone are the days when each machine in a plant must be operated by human beings. Manufacturers, processing and assembling industries should embrace new technology that comes with a myriad of benefits. The cost benefits of automation alone should be good enough reason to convert an industrial age process into a state of the art plant using SCADA, DCS (Distributed Control System), or PLCs

Automating a process is not recommended for certain plants. Since its objective is to lower labor costs, it is not suitable for small companies with few employees. Chances are that the same employees may still be needed to oversee the process. Automating it will therefore not have many benefits, including increased production and profits.




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