How can flexible production help UK manufacturers adapt to a changing market?

Incorporating the latest IoT technology along with automation and robotics will ensure that flexible manufacturing is also commercially viable. Production processes can be divided into individual cells that can be easily rearranged and connected with collaborative and mobile robots. This is a step towards the flexible factory of the future that will help safeguard a competitive manufacturing industry in the UK.

Smart automation plays a key role in achieving flexible production. The latest IoT technology along with automation and robotics make flexible manufacturing not only a reality but also commercially sustainable. One vision for the endpoint of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is a batch size of one, where a production line can change after every product to tailor to each individual customer’s needs.

Combining collaborative and mobile robots with artificial intelligence and vision systems can unlock even more exciting possibilities for industrial applications. Automation, smart devices, precision control, and robotics enable maximum flexibility in manufacturing. There is no need to build an entire new production line or plant to timely address changes in consumer demand. Thanks to the added flexibility and efficiency, manufacturers can stay competitive, maintaining a strong manufacturing industry in the UK.