News & Updates Archives | Page 5 of 22 | European Springs Ireland

In recent years, the world has changed so much, and technology has risen to become the most significant driver of our society’s growth and progress. With STEM careers becoming more available, there are a growing number of profitable STEM careers for young people to choose from.

We at European Springs Ireland honestly believe that investing in new young engineers benefits the industry as a whole. Please continue reading to discover the benefits of a STEM career and how to get young people excited to be a part of it.

Explain What STEM Means For Them

It’s easy to think that STEM has only a single meaning. While it’s true that STEM is the acronym for:

Science
Technology
Engineering
Mathematics

These words are not everything STEM stands for. Instead, it is the concept of taking all four disciplines and combining them into a unified approach to learning, something more significant than the sum of their parts. By studying STEM or pursuing a career within the industry, you open yourself up to various career choices and possibilities.

STEM careers are not simply the end of the road from a STEM education program. Instead, they continue to help build your critical thinking and problem-solving skills. As an experienced pressings company, we encourage the close teamwork common in engineering environments. These supportive work environments will help build a person’s initiative-taking, teamwork abilities, and general communication skills. These varied skills are helpful in more than just engineering; they could help a young person with any future STEM career, again, providing options for their future.

Awareness of STEM Careers?

STEM can seem too vague a career trajectory for many young people to grasp fully. Moreover, it can be off-putting not to have a single laser-focused objective for your future career. Without clear goals in life, it can be easy to wander or feel like your efforts are not getting you anywhere. So we recommend explaining the applicable positions they can apply for within the broad sector.

STEM Careers can cover almost every facet of our lives:

Science covers everything from doctors, dentists, physicists, chemists and biologists.
Technology covers the digital world of web developers, software testers and general graphic creation.
Engineering has the broadest coverage of career possibilities regarding STEM—civil, electrical and agricultural engineering or manufacturing such as our spring manufacturers in Ireland.
Mathematics will offer you financial or research analysis or a move into economics and statistics.

By providing suggested career goals within the sector, you can help provide purpose and drive to young people and help them find a passion for a STEM career. It’s easier to dream about being a chemist, research analyst or engineer than to dream about being a general STEM worker.

How to Get Started in STEM?

Across the UK, there are various scholarships, bursaries and apprenticeships available. Many employers are currently actively searching for graduates from STEM courses because they understand the importance of these highly skilled people for the industry’s future.

This desire has led to an increase in excellent funding opportunities for postgraduate students, especially for female students. But this is just one way you can explore a STEM career, which you can learn more about in our associated article.

For example, Brunel University in London offers a mentoring program called Women in Engineering and Computing (WiBEC) that supports young female graduates and undergraduates to enter a career in STEM. This program has existed since 2014 and has benefitted over 600 female students with industry advice from mentors.

We recommend reading the student newsletter and websites of the universities you’re interested in to find out what will be the best choice for your start in STEM.

Best Universities to Study STEM?

The UK is world-renowned for being one of the best countries to study STEM in. With highly-rated institutions for all industry elements, there are many options for places to study.

When choosing your university, you may find that they specialise in one part of STEM more than the others. So, for example, a university with a high rating for engineering postgraduate courses may not rank as highly for postgraduate mathematics courses. This means that if you choose conventional STEM rankings for universities, you may not get a clear image of what they are good at because they group all of STEM into one rating.

We recommend looking deeper at the individual courses the institution teaches. See what they specialise in and pride themselves on teaching. For example, a university that doesn’t rate highly in overall STEM may rate very highly in one element, such as engineering.

Institutions like the Trinity College Dublin, the University College of Cork and the National University of Ireland in Galway are all in the top 500 educational establishments for STEM worldwide and boast impressive placement rates in various sectors from medical to engineering. By choosing any of these, you will be earning a cost-effective quality education and beginning a very profitable career in any of the STEM careers mentioned previously.

Engineering Apprenticeship Schemes

As spring suppliers, we at European Springs Ireland are proud to offer incredible apprenticeship schemes that follow the Mechanical Manufacturing Apprenticeship framework. In addition, we award BTEC Level 3 certificates in Engineering operations and Maintenance.

There are so many fascinating, fulfilling careers in STEM available, with more being created each year. With so many learned institutions providing quality education and helpful bursaries, now is the time to explore your own bright future with a STEM career.

If you have any questions about getting started in STEM or specifically about our apprenticeship schemes, please don’t hesitate to contact us online today. One of our engineers will happily answer your questions.

There are no two ways around it; it’s been an unusual two years. Cast your mind back to 2016 when we were blissfully unaware of Covid-19, and the country’s talking point was Brexit. Then, the nation sent off their votes for the United Kingdom European Union membership referendum on the 23^rd of June 2016, which resulted in us leaving the EU.

Since then, the country has shifted, and industries have been affected in various ways, some positive and some negative. Alongside the pandemic, it’s difficult to remember what life was like pre-2020. One of the industries that was affected the most was manufacturing. Brexit halted the supply chain, product sourcing was forced to remain local, and delays were abundant.

Thus, as leading spring manufacturers in Ireland, we wanted to know how the Irish manufacturing industry stands now. Have there been any improvements to the industry over the last two years? What struggles are Irish manufacturers still facing? We’re looking at the facts and figures to determine how Irish manufacturers cope with Brexit two years on.

Struggles the Industry Faced Early On

The list of struggles that the manufacturing industry faced early on in the post-Brexit world was extensive. It took a long time to adapt to the new rules, regulations, laws, and protocols, and even now, Irish manufacturers have to adjust their work practices to comply with said changes. So let’s take a look at some of the struggles the industry faced early on:

Supply. Brexit put trading on halt whilst new protocols were put into place, ultimately affecting the supply chain. Millions of jobs were affected as delays grew. Despite this, the demand never slowed down, which significantly strained the industry.
Frequent protocol changes. Another struggle that the manufacturing industry faced, alongside other sectors around the country, was the confusion due to the frequent protocol changes. Northern Ireland, in particular, were in a difficult position, which is why the Northern Ireland Protocol was implemented, which we will discuss in further detail below.
Customs. Customs were amongst the factors that caused delays to the supply chain. In addition, as the border restrictions differed for UK and EU countries, there were added costs, tighter regulations, and more confusion as migrant workers dealt with the changes.

How the Industry Coped with New Trading Rules

Initially, the industry struggled with these changes, particularly in Northern Ireland, where the confusions and changes only worsened. This was when the Northern Protocol was introduced. This protocol was negotiated in 2019, agreed upon, and concluded in December 2020. It allows delivery lorries to transport goods without paperwork or having their merchandise checked when they cross the Northern Ireland border into the Republic of Ireland.

This was a huge relief to the manufacturing industry, especially as it was put into place to help with the delays and supply chain issues the sector was facing beforehand. Before Brexit, operating an open border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland was easy as they were both part of the EU, so both followed the EU’s trade rules. This meant no checks were required, so the process was smooth, quick, and straightforward. However, as discussed, after Brexit, the EU’s trading rules became more strict, and as the Republic of Ireland is still part of the EU, the difficulty to trade between there and Northern Ireland worsened.

When the Northern Ireland Protocol was agreed, manufacturing companies could breathe a sigh of relief as their struggles were heard and trading became a little easier. However, it also came with a set of its own struggles. Because the checks are no longer taking place along the Irish border, it was settled that inspections and document checks would happen between Northern Ireland and Great Britain instead.

This meant that a new trade border was essentially created in the Irish Sea, which received a lot of criticism amongst more confusion. The UK government now says that the Northern Ireland Protocol is too rigid and calls for changes, including removing paperwork checks between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

As Irish spring suppliers, who supply all over the UK and Europe, we’re interested in these seemingly ever-changing rules and regulations. Although they sound all doom and gloom, have there been any improvements in how Irish manufacturers cope with Brexit?

Have There Been Any Improvements?

Recent surveys have revealed that Irish manufacturers have made “significant strides” with the Northern Ireland Protocol and have gotten to grips with the changes quickly in the last six months. In July 2021, a shocking 40% of Irish manufacturing businesses claimed to be struggling with the new protocol and the implications it brought. However, this percentage was down to less than 25% in January 2022; excellent news for the industry, bringing hope to a sector that took a massive hit during Brexit and the pandemic.

One of the most remarkable outcomes of this strange time is that Irish manufacturers were somewhat forced to source locally. As materials and products were difficult to get hold of during the height of the Brexit negotiations, businesses found ways to source materials locally which was fantastic for small, local businesses.

As industry-leading spring manufacturers and suppliers in Ireland, we have experienced the hardships of Brexit firsthand and are relieved to be coming out of the other side with a clearer idea of where the sector stands.

We produce and supply springs, pressings, and metal components to a wide range of industries and offer incredible bespoke services so your business can get exactly what it needs. Get in touch today to enquire about our products.

Technology is constantly evolving, particularly in the manufacturing industry. Industry professionals and tech experts regularly find new and innovative manufacturing ways, which changes and updates how the industry works. For example, one of the latest technologies to be incorporated into manufacturing is artificial intelligence. This fascinating technology comes with a long list of advantages, but some people believe it could take over, putting many workers out of a job because of its capabilities.

That is why, in today’s blog, we’re looking into the use of artificial intelligence in the manufacturing industry. We will explain what artificial intelligence is and the various types and the different services for artificial intelligence in the manufacturing industry. We will also look at the advantages of its use and the drawbacks in an attempt to see how this incredible technology could one day take over the manufacturing and engineering industries.

What is Artificial Intelligence?

Firstly, we need to look into what artificial intelligence is. Artificial intelligence, or AI, is an area of computer science concerned with smart computers and machines capable of completing tasks that a human typically completes. There are various types of artificial intelligence. We use some in our day-to-day lives, for example, our voice-activated virtual assistants inside our smartphones like Siri or Alexa, and smart intelligence within Netflix recommendations.

Other, more advanced artificial intelligence is used to help build machinery and perform instant calculations, for example, those used within the manufacturing industry. Let’s take a look at what these are.

Examples of Artificial Intelligence in the Manufacturing Industry Today

AI can be seen in many manufacturing stages and is often used in areas that require checks and calculations to ensure no human errors are made. Here are some examples of where you might find artificial intelligence:

During quality checks. Minor flaws in products and machinery might be difficult for humans to pick up, so AI is often used to quality check and eliminate human error.

Supply chain management. For example, in warehouses, AI is used to monitor the process of manufacturing, from production all the way through to delivery. From here, it can be organised and analysed to ensure the warehouse runs smoothly.

Forecast product demand. Using smart technology similar to the AI that Netflix uses to predict what you might want to watch accurately, manufacturers can use artificial intelligence to analyse trends in product demand and forecast future demand.

Robotics in manufacturing. AI is used in robotics within manufacturing to do repetitive, tedious jobs. With the support of human workers, these AI robots can perform efficiently and without error, speeding up the manufacturing process.

These are just a few examples. In fact, artificial intelligence can be used at almost every stage of the manufacturing process – but what are the advantages to using this technology?

The Advantages of Using Artificial Intelligence in the Manufacturing Industry

There are many advantages to using artificial intelligence in the manufacturing industry. For example, you can have a 24/7 production line by implementing robotics with AI capabilities. Humans cannot be expected to work without breaks, but robots can continue working quickly and efficiently without stopping.

Another advantage of this technology is that they eliminate human error. They can complete calculations and perform tasks seamlessly, quickly, and at a speed that the human brain cannot match. It’s because of this that they are used for quality checks. For example, as spring manufacturers, we could use this technology to quality check our compression springs and ensure they are suitable to be distributed.

Finally, they have a low operational cost. While artificial intelligence may be expensive to implement into your business, it has the potential to complete tasks quicker and to a higher standard than humans and doesn’t have to be paid a wage as people do. Of course, there are maintenance expenses, but the work they can produce often equates to much more than this expense.

The Drawbacks of Using Artificial Intelligence in the Manufacturing Industry

Of course, there are also some drawbacks to using artificial intelligence in the manufacturing industry. Some people don’t agree with the concept of AI as they believe it is taking away potential jobs for humans. In some cases, this is true, and robotics have replaced many people’s jobs. However, it has also opened up a completely different area of manufacturing and provided engineers and computer scientists with more career options, working to develop and maintain this technology.

Another potential drawback of artificial intelligence in the manufacturing industry is that it constantly evolves and can be difficult (and expensive) to keep up with. Suppose you implement AI into your factory, for example. In that case, you may find that in a few months, your technology is outdated and a new version with more advanced capabilities is available. This goes hand in hand with the fact that you will need an expert to help with this technology. As it’s an ever-changing industry, it can be challenging to find an AI expert, which is why many businesses avoid implementing the technology in the first place.

Will Artificial Intelligence Eventually Take Over?

This is difficult to say, as although AI has fantastic capabilities and can out-perform humans on many levels, it cannot do everything or be creative. Whilst it can suggest a movie it has decided you might like, this isn’t because it knows you, cares about you, or thinks you will enjoy it. This “decision” is based on what you have watched previously and your ratings for those movies or TV shows.

This is the same with manufacturing. AI can help produce items, yet it cannot suggest new items. But, again, this is something that only humans can do, and this creative side to people is needed in manufacturing just as much as the data checks and rapid production.

Whether this will happen in the future is unclear, but nothing is truly impossible with the rapid evolution of technology.

How Can We Prepare for the Future?

If you’re involved in manufacturing, it’s a great idea to stay one step ahead and keep updated with industry news. You can do this by reading our blog, which we frequently update with articles.

As spring suppliers, we’re fascinated by artificial intelligence and its potential for the manufacturing industry. We’re always interested in expanding our technologies and implementing new ways to provide our customers with the best springs and pressings available on the market.

If you’re interested in our springs, pressings, or metal components, please feel free to get in touch, and a member of our team will be more than happy to help.

It’s disheartening to hear that 56% of female engineers reported that they felt the manufacturing industry in Ireland has not only more opportunities, but superior opportunities for men. Despite the statistics that show women are less likely to enter the field than men, it is unclear why there aren’t equal opportunities for each gender.

That is why, in today’s blog, we’re looking into the importance of inspiring women to choose a career in manufacturing. We’ll be exploring the idea of challenging stereotypes that women in this industry deal with daily and focus on why we should be encouraging women to join the manufacturing sector from a young age.

We’re proud to stand with women here at European Springs Ireland and offer an incredible support system for young people getting started in the industry as apprenticeships. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team for additional support or advice.

What Do the Statistics Say?

It may not be surprising to hear, but only 14% of bachelor’s graduates from engineering and manufacturing related schemes in Ireland are women. Young women taking their GCSEs have been found to steer clear from STEM-related subjects, meaning even at the age of 16, girls are put-off from a career in manufacturing.

But we want to know why this is. Is it a lack of support from the industry? An unmotivating number of opportunities to progress? A long list of damaging stereotypes and old-fashioned ideals?

Although the numbers are low, with women making up just 14.5% of engineering in Ireland, it is slowly on the rise, with a 25.7% increase in women in manufacturing roles from 2016 to 2021. This is hopeful, but there is still much more work to rectify the gender imbalance.

Challenging Stereotypes

One of the main reasons women tend to avoid a career in manufacturing is the stereotypes surrounding their gender within the industry. These stereotypes suggest that to take on a manufacturing role, you must fit into a particular category by looking and acting a certain way, and usually, this means being male. Another stereotype is that those who aren’t male are at least masculine-presenting and have typically masculine interests. This damaging stereotype means that feminine presenting women may be put off from a career in manufacturing due to the judgement and lack of support they receive from others.

These stereotypes can have a knock-on effect and mean that women interested in a career within the industry could feel excluded as they have little or no role models or people like themselves to look up to within their workplace.

Inspiring Young Women in Schools

To abolish the stereotypes of needing to look or act a certain way to work within the manufacturing industry, we need to start from the beginning. This means inspiring young girls from an early age before learning about outdated beliefs.

It’s vital that this education begins before children take their GCSEs, and they are taught that anyone can find success in manufacturing, no matter their gender. This way, they have time to consider it as a career option before making choices about their potential further education, such as university and apprenticeship schemes.

Apprenticeship Schemes for Women

Here at European Springs Ireland, we are proud to offer incredible apprenticeship schemes that follow the Mechanical Manufacturing Apprenticeship framework and award BTEC Level 3 certificates in Engineering Operations and Maintenance. Additionally, we provide an accompanying NVQ in Mechanical Manufacturing Engineering. We believe that a career in manufacturing is a great choice, and an apprenticeship is a fantastic way of getting your foot in the door and learning trade skills and getting paid at the same time.

We would never discriminate and are happy to take on anyone excited about the role and their career within the industry, regardless of gender. For more information on the fantastic opportunities here at European Springs Ireland, please get in touch with our team. We are more than happy to discuss your options and help you decide which path is right for you.

International Women in Engineering Day

International Women in Engineering Day is detrimental to the industry; it allows women worldwide to speak up about their experiences, good and bad, to inspire others to do the same. It lands on the 23^rd of June annually and is a day of celebrating the slowly narrowing gender pay gap and working towards a more inclusive industry. Companies worldwide take part in recognising their influential female workers – inspiring young women to consider a career in engineering and manufacturing.

Looking Into the Future

As disheartening as the statistics may be to read, we are working closer to a more inclusive community that supports both men and women in the manufacturing industry. We hope this blog has given those who need it some inspiration and drive to go for the career they wish to have and not feel like they can’t because of their gender.

If you’re interested in pursuing an engineering or manufacturing apprenticeship with us, please do get in touch, and we will provide you with everything you need to know to help get you set up. As leading spring manufacturers in Ireland, we have what you need to inspire and push you in the career that’s right for you.

Employee safety is one of the leading trends for manufacturers heading into 2022. Safety in the workplace has always been a priority, though following the Covid-19 pandemic, ‘safety’ has taken on a new meaning.

Accidents in the workplace can be detrimental to manufacturers, and so it’s important to implement a cohesive safety strategy and build a professional working relationship with your suppliers. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) form a crucial part of the UK’s manufacturing sector, creating unbranded products that companies then sell. These products are significant to the safety and welfare of your employees, especially if they are operating in close proximity to moving parts, automated machinery and electrical equipment.

As well as the basic safety precautions, like sanitising and social distancing, you must also ensure that you are carefully tracking visitors and clients who visit your facility, including the equipment they use and the members of staff they interact with.

In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at the importance of employee safety and how you can improve this with supply chain visibility, quality PPE and by integrating AI and automation into your manufacturing processes.

The Importance of Employee Safety

There is a new focus on employee safety that has extended to and includes field service. This means that technicians and workers have to be more prepared to quickly and efficiently complete orders with minimal contact or disruption. On the flip side of this increased organisation, we expect to see a rise in the number of first-time fix rates for manufacturers.

While many businesses have been held back by the restrictions of Covid-19 and seen a significant decrease in productivity levels, we believe there are still opportunities that you can take advantage of — these include improving your operating costs and customer service offering.

The after-effects of the Covid-19 pandemic are not going away overnight. It’s vital to prepare your workforce and adjust your processes, making the safety of your employees a priority.

Supply Chain Visibility and Quality PPE

As manufacturers start to demand more visibility and transparency from supply chain representatives, we foresee a more streamlined working process for order tracking and claims throughout our sector in the future. As a result, manufacturers are now seeking in-source facilities maintenance and management to take care of track and trace, sanitising units and supplies — all of which require the help of equipment data from OEMs.

The issue of poor Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has been brought to light when concerning employee safety, with many companies trying to cut costs. Jimmy Quinn, President of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), says that workplace safety should be at the heart of a company’s business strategy and that these areas are key to the success and sustainability of businesses.

Since the 2008 recession, the IOSH has reported that many companies are making substandard PPE buying choices, including boots, hard hats, and gloves. Purchasing poor safety equipment could cost lives and is actively putting your workforce at risk. When choosing PPE equipment, you should always check that the supplier meets your industry’s criteria and safety standards.

Integrating AI and Automated Processes

As a manufacturer, you have a duty of care and responsibility for your employees, and this includes the proper training with automated machinery, electrical devices and equipment with moving parts. You should take health and safety very seriously and could be subject to fines, potential personal lawsuits and reputational damage if you do not put the correct practices in place.

We’re reputable spring manufacturers in Ireland, and our well-equipped manufacturing plants allow us to offer a wide range of custom products and services. We continuously train our experienced engineers and invest in the latest automated equipment, which means we can repeatedly meet ever-changing safety requirements while producing top-quality products for our customers and the market we operate in.

Automation, in particular, made it possible for us to work at almost full capacity during the Covid-19 pandemic. Our technicians could work remotely and speak to customers about design elements, troubleshooting and repairs. These new technologies are exciting for manufacturers, as they can bring new business, increase production rates and promote sustainability through the efficient use of materials.

As leading spring manufacturers, we continue to keep up to date with industry-standard regulations relating to the safety and welfare of our employees.

If you have any questions about our services or products, including compression springs or pressings, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’ll be happy to help!

In the meantime, visit our blog page and be the first to see the latest information on the manufacturing industry and expert sector insights.

As 2022 fast approaches, we turn our attention to the upcoming top trends in manufacturing. Our sector is constantly developing and advancing, and so as leading spring manufacturers, we need to keep up with the latest technology and equipment that are the driving forces behind these changes.

Industry 4.0 represents the fourth revolution that has occurred in manufacturing. There’s no denying that it has enabled our industry to improve operational visibility, streamline production times, deliver first-class customer support and reduce costs. It’s time to turn our attention to Industry 5.0 — where we will see increased collaboration between humans and smart technologies.

In this blog, we’ll take a look at some of the most recent and ongoing trends in manufacturing, focusing on the Internet of Things (IoT), employee safety and Smart Factories.

Internet of Things

Modern-day manufacturing has been changed and shaped by The Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) with many developments, especially in the last 18 months. Businesses have begun to understand the value and benefits of controlling machinery and facilities from one centralised location. IoT is used widely across the manufacturing industry and, for us, claims the top spot on the trends list this year.

When used correctly, companies can reap the rewards of modern data analysis by connecting devices or machinery within an existing internet infrastructure. This has allowed manufacturers to streamline processes and make informed or strategic decisions based on real-time data. By using this technology, your business can seek to achieve various goals, such as increasing efficiency, safety, innovation and reduced costs.

A study conducted by the MPI Group shows that almost a third (31%) of today’s production processes involve smart devices or embedded intelligence at some capacity. In addition, 34% of manufacturers plan to incorporate IoT technology into their processes, and 32% propose to embed IoT technology into their products.

Employee Safety

As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, employee safety will continue to dominate manufacturing trends well into 2022. While workplace safety has always been at the forefront of manufacturing facilities, the word safety has taken on a new meaning. Every industry has been following basic safety precautions, such as social distancing and hand sanitising. For manufacturers, employee and visitor safety now covers the sourcing of in-house facilities maintenance with an increased emphasis on traceability — this could require external equipment from an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).

With employee safety at the forefront of many discussions in our industry, the spotlight is also on processes and how manufacturers can become leaner and smarter in their ways of working to increase the safety and wellbeing of employees — especially for roles involving large amounts of human labour.

This is where Industry 5.0 and the importance of collaborative working between humans and machines will be significant. Companies will look to further implement automated processes throughout their facilities, with increased control that does not require extra human work to maintain adequate levels of safety.

Here at European Springs, we anticipate that this trend will directly impact supply chain visibility. Manufacturers must demand more transparency from suppliers, as it will help track and improve communication on any issues throughout the whole process.

Virtual Reality and Automation

For most manufacturers, virtual reality (VR) and automation have enabled many to work at full capacity throughout the pandemic. Technicians could work remotely, sending customers augmented reality or virtual reality devices to talk them through repairs and troubleshooting.

These technologies present an exciting opportunity for both convenience and new lines of business. More customers are open to the idea of using touchscreen technology and can see the immediate benefits of it — which include higher production rates, increased productivity and the efficient use of materials.

When you choose to invest in smart technologies like sensors, machine learning, robotics, and cloud computing, you can not only grow your supply chain but look to cater for online customers and identify areas for machine investment and growth.

Our well-equipped manufacturing plants allow us to offer a wide range of custom products and services. We train our experienced engineers and invest in the latest automated equipment, which means we can repeatedly meet the ever-changing requirements of our customers and the market we operate in.

Smart Factories

Smart Factories have become the driving force of digitalisation. The term refers to a digitalised shop or facility operated by connected machines, production systems and devices. One of the main benefits of Smart Factories is that you can use live data from the automated machines to produce reports based on improvement areas, such as ongoing issues and demands.

Smart Factories are connected by a combination of technologies, including Big Data Analytics, Cloud Computing, AI, and Industrial IoT. Each element works to combine physical and digital tasks so that the Smart Factory process can integrate and supervise systems to streamline performance and operations.

Here are some examples of the most common technologies found in a Smart Factory:

Industrial IoT – Connected machines, processes, or devices linked through data communication, allowing data to be exchanged by people and machines.

Sensors – Built into machines to collect unique data at various stages of the manufacturing process. Sensors are beneficial for offering live visibility.

Cloud Computing – The processing, storage and sharing of data. Cloud computing gives a cost-effective and flexible solution that allows you to focus on key metrics and solve ongoing issues.

Big Data – Collecting data over time gives you insight into the bigger picture of processes and key metrics. In particular, big data helps identify recurring errors.

As leading spring manufacturers, we continue to invest and advance how we manufacture to prepare for the industry’s future. AI and Smart Factory technologies have been established for a while, and those who choose to invest are seeing a growing return. Automation also facilitates a more agile way of working, including streamlining processes and working at normal capacity under most circumstances.

Keep up to date with our blog page and be the first to see the latest information on the manufacturing industry, as well as expert sector insights.

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Category: News & Updates