< Previousforterra.co.ukHelping Build CommunitiesOur strength as one of Britain’s largest manufacturers of building products is helping to support the growth of UK house building. Our wide range of bricks, blocks and precast concrete products are used in the building of communities across the country, from housing for families, to schools, community facilities and vital infrastructure. Across our 18 manufacturing facilities in the UK, we employ a workforce of over 1,900 people and produce some of the sector’s most trusted brands.01604 707600create@forterra.co.uk09-25.qxp_Layout 1 03/04/2019 11:50 Page 12ENTRIES CLOSE 31ST MAY 2019THE BEST BRICK BUILDINGS IN BRITAINVIEW CATEGORIES AND SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY ATBRICK.ORG.UK/BRICK-AWARDS/BRICK AWARDS 2019Wednesday 13th November 2019, Royal Lancaster, Lancaster Terrace, LondonFor all entry and ticket enquiries please contact Tom Farmer attomfarmer@brick.org.uk or on 07860 52027309-25.qxp_Layout 1 03/04/2019 11:50 Page 1309-25.qxp_Layout 1 03/04/2019 11:50 Page 14www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukEast Midlands Business Link 23 BRICKS 2019Excellence in Design Gladstone House Extra Care Facility – Studio-G Associates Elite Athlete Centre and Hotel – Loughborough University Blueprint Interiors Sponsored byTERRY TEASDALE (HARLEQUIN OFFICE FURNITURE), RICKY MAYNARD (STUDIO-G ASSOCIATES), NOEL BARROWCLOUGH (STUDIO-G ASSOCIATES) Deal of the Year Fairgrove Homes and Nelsons Solicitors Innes England Fisher German Sponsored bySIMON MIDGLEY (FAIRGROVE HOMES), VANESSA GREGORY (FAIRGROVE HOMES), MARY GHARMOUNT (NELSONS SOLICITORS), STEVE MIDGLEY (FAIRGROVE HOMES), BRENDAN WALSH (SHAKESPEARE MARTINEAU)09-25.qxp_Layout 1 03/04/2019 11:50 Page 1509-25.qxp_Layout 1 03/04/2019 11:50 Page 16www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukEast Midlands Business Link 25 BRICKS 2019Most Active Agent FHP Property Consultants Andrew & Ashwell CPA & Associates Sponsored byJOHN PROCTOR (FHP), SUE CHARLESWORTH (IOD), CHRIS PROCTOR (FHP), TIM GILBERTSON (FHP)Overall winner J Tomlinson Sponsored byJASON MADELEY (J TOMLINSON), CHRIS HUBBARD (STREETS CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS), JIM HARDIE (J TOMLINSON)09-25.qxp_Layout 1 03/04/2019 11:50 Page 17FACTORY AUTOMATIONFactory 4.0Falling under the wider Industry 4.0 umbrella, the smart factory concept prescribes intelligent, efficient factory automation and control systems which can increase flexibility, save energy and extend system life. For its myriad benefits, there’s a lot for operators to consider. 26-28.qxp_Layout 1 03/04/2019 10:03 Page 1Key to the smart factory concept is the internet of things (IoT), a cloud-connected network that brings together previously separate systems. In doing so, once disparate data streams are pooled in one place, where they can be turned into actionable insights. This allows manufacturers to see exactly where they can create a leaner, more efficient supply chain operation and highlight what areas require improvement. Far from a passing fad, IoT is already having a transformative effect. According to management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, the impact of IoT could reach $11 trillion per year by 2025. What separates IoT from induvial digital technologies is its interconnectedness. Yes, there’s processing machines, forklifts and the like, but it’s as much about creating a mapped network of an entire factory operation. This includes smoke detectors, thermometers for chilled environments, water meters, motion detectors and security systems. Take machine sensors as an example. They allow factories to measure and reduce energy and water waste leading to lower operating costs and more environmentally sustainable operations. Using smart sensors can also lead to better asset tracking, triggering orders when stock runs low so manufacturers can completely automate their inventory replenishment process. The same technology can also automatically identify potential equipment failures before they happen, saving on more expensive repairs and protracted periods of downtime. There will always be some resistance to new technologies, but the majority of companies in the industrial manufacturing sector are exploring this concept or at least looking into smart technologies. The downside, however, is that the right infrastructure is needed before any IoT system can be installed and this requires investment. Costs here can be steep – sometimes even prohibitive – but at a time when the future seems uncertain, investing in technologies that will help to future-proof the factory floor can be an attractive prospect. But there’s more to the smart factory concept than just IoT. The so-called “lights out” production concept, where manufacturing activities and material flow are handled automatically, is becoming a hallmark of modern manufacturing. Obviously, this can’t be achieved by a traditional workforce and so robots have become much more commonplace on the factory floor. Robots were originally introduced in the workplace for health and safety reasons, replacing human workers in dirty and dangerous jobs, and boosting production output. Robotic systems also help to improve product quality and uniformity and, crucially, cut East Midlands Business 27 28 Á© SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / ASHARKYU© SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / ZAPP2PHOTO26-28.qxp_Layout 1 03/04/2019 10:03 Page 2manufacturing costs by replacing increasingly expensive people with ever-cheaper machines. After all, a machine doesn’t need a living wage or pension. It’s understandable that some workers fear robots will put them out of a job, especially in the manufacturing sector. Yet it’s the very nature of technology to eliminate jobs by expanding the scope of human understanding and by making our home and work lives easier. Complete automation is the natural next step for manufacturing. There’s been countless studies both confirming and denying the notion that robotics and artificial intelligence will steal jobs. What we can agree on, however, is that these booming new sectors will themselves create jobs – though the exact figure is almost impossible to predict. East Midlands Business Link has never been shy in asserting its opinion that there will always be a place for a human workforce in the manufacturing sector, because machines and automated systems still need to be designed, installed, serviced and repaired. But it is inevitable that the robots are coming. As well as improving efficiency, lowering operation costs and boosting output, investing in robots makes sound financial sense. Over the last three decades, the average robot price has fallen by half in real terms whilst the cost of labour has continued to rise. Robotic systems also have the advantage over IoT as they’re comparatively easy to assemble, install and integrate thanks to overall advances in computing power, software development techniques and networking technologies. Whether working in tandem with robotic systems or as part of a wider IoT, augmented reality (AR) has a number of practical applications on the factory floor. Although the AR dates back to 1968, the technology is still in its infancy, but there’s a huge scope of what it can offer likely permeate the industry in the years to come. The smart factory concept is less a decision facing manufacturers and more like the industry in evolution. Companies resist this change at their own peril, but that’s not to say they must completely overhaul their operations. The addition of augmented reality or a robotics system may be enough to benefit from efficiency gains and, best of all, a reduction in operating costs. FACTORY AUTOMATION28 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk© SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / NATALIYA HORA© SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / PANUWAT PHIMPHA26-28.qxp_Layout 1 03/04/2019 10:03 Page 3Subscribe now and receive Business Link every month, delivered to your doorDelivery Details Name:............................................................................................ 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