Humanity is constantly moving forward. We are creating new and more universal tools that allow us to increase the effectiveness of the efforts of each individual person. The next step, actively implemented today, was automation. Integrated, partial, complete - what is the difference between them? We will talk about this with an emphasis on the first type. The fact is that the topic is quite large, and this process will be considered on this part of it.
What is automation?
This is the name of the set of tools and methods necessary to implement a system that can control the
process without the participation of a person (or if he makes only the most responsible decisions).
The basis of this provision is the redistribution of energy, information and material flows in accordance with previously provided management criteria. The end result is called an automated control system (ACS). Now let's take a quick look at her typology.
What is partial automation?
This is when the process has affected individual devices, machines or technological operations. It can be done when the fulfillment of the necessary functions is not accessible to a person or actions occur too often. An example is food industry enterprises that prepare products for sale (pour water into containers, pack peas according to their color, and so on). This also includes the automation of managerial work. The greatest effect can be obtained when the transfer of functions to machines is already provided at the project stage.
What is integrated automation ?
This is when the presence of a person is not necessary constantly. Integrated automation provides for the creation of a technological section or even an enterprise that will function as one mechanism. An example is power plants. In such cases,
production functions are transferred to the technology
. But integrated automation can be used only if there is a highly developed production.
There should also be a refined technology and advanced management methods applied. Particular requirements are put forward for the reliability of technology, as well as for the quality level of writing software that is installed on it. All human functions in this case are reduced to control and general management of the complex. At the moment, this is the most promising automation, which will not lose significant primacy at the enterprise for at least another decade. And the next view is not fully implemented anywhere else in the world.
What is full automation?
This is the highest gear transfer
process control technology. All management and control functions are transferred to her. In the modern world, such automation of the enterprise is still not done. At least a control function remains behind a person. But if you want to know what they are, then nuclear plants can be considered close to this. That is, full automation of the enterprise is carried out in cases where production is stable, cost-effective, the modes do not change (almost), and all possible problems and deviations are taken into account in advance. The efficiency of one person becomes as important as the whole team of people in a regular company.
Integrated Automation Goals
Here is what happens when this process starts:
- improving product quality;
- reduction in the number of staff;
- increasing the efficiency of production processes;
- increasing the volume of products;
- reduction in raw material waste;
- increased security;
- increased compliance with environmental standards;
- increase in profitability.
Integrated Automation Tasks
What should happen in the long run? And the result is this:
- The quality of regulation is improving.
- The level of ergonomics of the work of process operators is increased.
- The equipment availability factor is increasing.
- The reliability of information on material components that are used in production is provided.
- Data is stored about the technological process, as well as about emergency situations, which subsequently allows them to be avoided.
To achieve them, methods and means of integrated automation are used. What does this mean in practice? And the fact that different technological processes are used:
- continuous
- discrete;
- hybrid.
This means that at the heart of each process is something different. Moreover, it is necessary to approach the definition not from the side of ordinary “everyday” experience, but from the position of mathematical and technical modeling.
Integrated Automation Principles
In this direction, three components are used, which should be in any system for its full operation:
- The principle of consistency. In this case, it is understood that actions in the process that is being automated should be coordinated with its technical and cybernetic inputs and outputs. If this is not so, then the system will malfunction.
- The principle of integration. An automated process is considered as part of the overall organization environment. In various cases, complex mechanization and automation have different levels of integration, as well as distinguishable ways to bring it to life. In other words, there must be a relationship with the external environment.
- The principle of independent execution. The necessary processes must be carried out without human intervention (in extreme cases, minimal control on his part is allowed). If everything goes as it should, there should be no interference.
Integrated Automation Levels
They cover various areas of work. So, the transition to integrated automation involves the development of:
- Lower level. It works out the automation of processes that are regularly performed. First of all, operational tasks, saving a certain operating mode and supporting established parameters provide interest.
- Production management level. In this case, the distribution of tasks to be performed between different processes of the previous paragraph is ensured. Examples include planning and managing resources, documents, services, manufacturing, and so on.
- Enterprise management level. This provides a solution to forecasting and analytical problems. This level is used to support the work of the top management of the organization. He is engaged in financial, economic and strategic tasks.
What types of systems can be with integrated automation?
They can be like this:
- Immutable. Integrated business automation pays considerable attention to production processes (a certain sequence of actions) that do not change during the operation of the equipment. An example is the food industry.
- Programmable. In systems of this type, the sequence of actions can be changed by adjusting the program and the configuration of the process. This is possible due to a recognizable set of instructions that are set accordingly and can thus be interpreted by the system.
- Flexible. This type of system can make a choice among all possible actions in such a way that the goal is achieved. All changes and decisions are made based on the information received.
Example
Let's look at a real case where complex automation of production is used. As an object, we will study the software component of this area of process improvement. The subject will be a product of the Russian company 1C, which is called Integrated Automation.
This software allows you to take care of quick workflow and reporting on any issues. It also makes it possible to monitor the state of the enterprise in real time. To make you understand the possibilities of such programs, we explain this phenomenon in a slightly different way.
As soon as someone takes a blank for the manufacture of the part, information about this is immediately entered into the database. If the processing was unsuccessful, it is written off as waste, and a certain amount is allocated for this operation (or for processing). As soon as the part is done, information about this is entered into the enterprise database.
The owner or director can contact her at any time to see what is in stock and provide information to customers about the implementation of their orders. The accountant, thanks to the database and additional tools, can quickly prepare the necessary reports for internal use and tax service. As a result, there is no need to distract people, and at the same time the set goals are successfully achieved. And all this allows you to get complex automation.
Reviews
To understand what these improvements are, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the words of specialists who deal with such systems.
Initially, you need to understand that the transition to integrated enterprise automation is not an easy and expensive business. Therefore, it requires careful preparation and quality planning. But all the costs will be more than paid off as soon as the equipment is put into operation and starts working. True, there are requirements for the qualification component of the employee who will work with the system. The fact is that the more complex the mechanism, the more experienced staff must interact with it. Therefore, if you recruit low-skilled workers, the system can quickly fail, which will entail losses and additional expenses of money.
Integrated automation can also be used everywhere, but there is a question of rationality. So, it makes no sense to develop and implement an expensive system if it works only half an hour a day (although this is still how to look, it depends on the case). In addition, complex enterprise automation is always a risk. After all, it is not known whether investments will ruin you.
Conclusion
Now you have a good idea of what automation gives to humanity. Of course, until the moment when machines can replace human labor completely, decades (or even centuries) remain, but we hope that we can successfully live up to this moment and enjoy its fruits.