91Ƶ

The COVID-19 Epidemic Promotes the Technology Promotion and Development Trend of Smart Unmanned Factories
Trend

The COVID-19 Epidemic Promotes the Technology Promotion and Development Trend of Smart Unmanned Factories

The COVID-19 caused a great catastrophe for mankind and suffered heavy losses to the global economy and politics. 91Ƶ to find a model that can sustain economic life and still be able to complete work and life is the biggest challenge of life at this stage. It also urges the industry to more actively move towards the development trend of smart unmanned factories, reduce clustering and contact, introduce unmanned factory technology, and improve production efficiency and control efficiency.
Published: Sep 14, 2020
The COVID-19 Epidemic Promotes the Technology Promotion and Development Trend of Smart Unmanned Factories

What is an unmanned factory?

An unmanned factory is also called an automated factory or a fully automated factory. It refers to a factory where all production activities are controlled by electronic computers, and the first line of products is equipped with robots without the need for workers. In this kind of factory, production orders and raw materials are input from one end of the factory, after product design, process design, production processing, and inspection packaging, and finally output from the other end of the factory. All work is realized by computer-controlled robots, CNC machine tools, unmanned vehicles, and automated warehouses, and people do not directly participate in the work. During the day, only a few workers in the factory do some checks and modify some instructions; at night, only two or three monitors are left.

Speaking of factories, you might think of the crowded scenes in the factory buildings: each production line is filled with workers, and various parts are assembled in a streamlined manner, and finally assembled into finished products. 91Ƶever, the above scenes will become historical relics soon, because, with the advent of 5G technology, network connection speeds and cloud computing capabilities have been greatly improved. In the future, various machines in the factory can be connected through the IoT and then matched. Industrial robots perform different assembly processes to achieve fully automated production, making the operation of the production line more flexible and efficient. This is exactly the operating model of the Intelligent Plant under the vision of "Industry 4.0 (Fourth Industrial Revolution)".

Strictly speaking, the concept of the unmanned factory is not news. When the concept of smart manufacturing existed earlier, the relevant elements of the unmanned factory were already a key development project. The entire production background has been derived from automation to intelligence, and its goals are hoped that through the independent operation and development of the factory, the relevant judgment and contact with people can be reduced. The original purpose of developing unmanned factories is to reduce the chance of human judgment errors as much as possible with the help of the system. As the situation changes, the concept of smart manufacturing has gradually transformed into how to effectively improve the related implementation of people and factories, and the concepts and technologies of unmanned factories have gradually transformed into how to effectively combine the efficiency of factories with people. After all, when the machine is dealing with the relevant diversity and variability, there is still room for strengthening and processing.

Therefore, the most suitable way is to effectively combine the advantages and specialties of humans and machines to carry out appropriate collaboration. At first glance, this application model combines the relevant expertise of humans and the advantages of machines, which can make the best judgment model and effectively increase related production. 91Ƶever, at this stage, it is affected by the new coronary pneumonia; human processing and influencing capabilities seem to be it must be carried out as far away as possible. Under this situation, the development process of unmanned factory technology is deepened. Through this situation, smart manufacturing technology can further think about the feasibility of completely removing people, or whether relevant assistance can be effectively carried out remotely. To a certain extent, the progress of this series can be said to be the greatest improvement in assisting the deployment of machines and smart manufacturing in the entire field of smart manufacturing.

The most important part of an unmanned factory at this stage is the sensor application and communication standards. In the sensor application part, the current stage is still the world of major electronic communication manufacturers, and the major leading manufacturers in this part are still dominated by major manufacturers such as Microsoft, Google, Apple, and Samsung. At this stage, industry leaders are very optimistic about the key development of related sensor applications and virtual reality applications, but whether the patented technology can be reflected in product applications, there seems to be a lot of room in this part.

In addition to the sensor application, another issue that needs to be discussed is the communication standard part. At this stage, the virtual factory communication standard is still mainly based on IOT-related communication standards. At this stage, the most mainstream technology in IoT is mainly taking LPWAN (Low Power Wide Area Network) as the main three standards, it is mainly different from other related similar networks. LPWAN has a wider transmission distance and a larger data range. The most popular technology of LPWAN at this stage is the NB-IOT technology mastered by 3GPP is mainly NB-IoT technology. The specialty of this technology is that it can use the existing commercial 4G communication standards and can connect to 5G almost seamlessly. In fact, at the current 3GPP related standards meeting, NB-IOT IOT technology is recognized in the relevant scope of 5G. Therefore, NB-IOT technology can be said to be the most popular 5G application standard. 91Ƶever, compared with related patents, there are fewer patients in this field at this stage. At this stage, there are only 48 related patents. At this stage, the leading position in related fields is ZTE. ZTE-related patents not only have an advantage in number, but also the layout of various countries is also in a leading position, and the future development in the industrial field is worth noting.

Looking forward to the impact of the epidemic, the concept of smart manufacturing has been gradually transformed from human-computer collaboration to remote monitoring, remote control, and virtual reality related control. The development of related patents in this part is still very large. In terms of space, in terms of patented technology alone, major leading manufacturers are still traditional information makers, and at this stage, there is still a lack of major production factories. Therefore, how to effectively bring existing production technology to the unmanned human-machine interface in the future, believe there is still some effort space.

The scope of the unmanned factory

"Unmanned factories" generally appear in technologically advanced developed countries. Through economic exchanges with technologically backward developing countries, the world market is increasingly integrated and unified. At this time, when both developed and developing countries produce a certain product, the determination of the socially necessary labor time for this product requires consideration of the worlds average technical conditions, labor proficiency, and labor intensity. Working time, this time must be greater than socially necessary working time in developed countries, and less than socially necessary working time in developing countries. When certain products are in short supply, the socially necessary labor time of the product is determined by the labor time of the enterprises in the developing countries with the worst production conditions. The individual value of the products of the technologically advanced "unmanned factory" and the society in the world the difference in value further widens. Through economic exchanges and cooperation with developing countries, "unmanned factories" in developed countries can obtain more excess surplus-value. The surplus value created by workers in other countries is divided through exchange activities with other countries so that the technologically advanced developed countries become the biggest beneficiaries of international trade.

Nowadays, "unmanned factories" are mostly in developed countries. These countries attach great importance to maintaining the monopoly of certain scientific achievements through intellectual property rights. The existence of patent rights hinders the possibility of other companies using this technology to produce the same product, hindering the decline in product prices due to changes in supply and demand, and hindering the disappearance of excess surplus-value. The dominant profit rates in different production sectors are originally very different. These different profit rates are averaged into general profit rates through competition. When competition fails, it will cause obstacles to the formation of the average profit rate, so that the ultra-high profit rate of some enterprises can be maintained for a long time, and the excess surplus-value obtained by the enterprise can exist for a long time.

Published by Sep 14, 2020 Source :

Further reading

You might also be interested in ...

Headline
Trend
EU Rules and Taiwans Textile Sustainability Shift
In recent years, the European Union has introduced a series of new regulations on sustainability and the circular economy, with the textile industry being one of the key areas under scrutiny. These regulations not only change how products are designed and manufactured, but also reshape collaboration models across global supply chains. For Taiwans export-oriented textile sector, this means accelerating the pace of sustainable transformation in order to remain competitive in the European marketwhile turning challenges into opportunities for brand and technological upgrades.
Headline
Trend
New Landscape in Precision Machining: Five Key Evolution Trends in CNC Toolroom Lathes
As global manufacturing competition intensifies, the precision machining industry is facing unprecedented challenges: parts are becoming smaller and more geometrically complex, machining accuracy requirements are rising, and delivery deadlines are increasingly compressed. As a core piece of equipment in this field, the CNC toolroom lathe is undergoing a profound transformation driven by both technological breakthroughs and evolving market demands.
Headline
Trend
Digital Transformation and Smart Manufacturing Trends in Machining Industry: Applications of Industry 4.0, IoT, and AI
The global manufacturing sector is undergoing an unprecedented wave of digital revolution. This trend brings technological advancement but also intensifies international market competition. The processing industry, a critical part of the manufacturing supply chain, faces multiple challenges including raw material price fluctuations, rising labor costs, and stricter environmental regulations. As consumer demands become more diverse and customized, the processing sector must swiftly adjust production methods. By embracing digital transformation, companies can enhance production efficiency and product quality, securing their competitive edge and market position. Digital transformation is no longer optional but an essential path for sustainable development in manufacturings future.
Headline
Trend
Multi-Model Comparison: The Full Evolution from Manual to CNC Toolroom Lathes
High-precision lathes and toolroom lathes specialize in producing small, high-accuracy components, often used in prototype development and sample manufacturing. As CNC toolroom lathes become increasingly widespread, the industry is moving toward digital and automated control to shorten production cycles and improve machining quality and consistency.
Headline
Trend
CNC Market in India Exhibits CAGR Significantly Higher Than Global Average: Market Outlook
Indias manufacturing sector is undergoing a critical transformation phase, with the rapid rise of industrial automation propelling the CNC machine tool market into a global growth hotspot. According to the latest research report by Technavio, the overall machine tool market in India is expected to increase by approximately USD 3.08 billion from 2024 to 2029, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.6%. In contrast, the global machine tool market CAGR is only about 5.07% (2023C2029), and the global CNC machine tool market CAGR is around 5.4% (2025C2029). Indias market growth rate is nearly twice the global average. Furthermore, supported by its large industrial base and favorable policies, India has strong potential to become a key strategic region in the global CNC machine tool market.
Headline
Trend
Global Competitiveness of Taiwans Lathe Industry
As global manufacturing moves toward high-precision and high-efficiency machining, lathe equipment remains an indispensable core tool in aerospace, automotive, energy, and medical sectors. Leveraging a solid manufacturing foundation and flexible customization capabilities, Taiwan has steadily expanded in the international lathe market, becoming a key supplier to both Europe, the United States, and emerging markets. To address diverse machining needs, Taiwanese manufacturers deploy both manual and CNC lathes, covering educational training, basic machining, and large-scale automated productiondemonstrating high adaptability to market demands.
Headline
Trend
Textile Black Tech: The Superpowers of Functional Fabrics
Have you ever wondered why some jackets can block wind and rain without making you feel stuffy? Or why some sportswear wicks away sweat quickly, keeping you dry? This isn't magic; it's the superpower of high-performance textiles. They are no longer just clothes but key materials that improve quality of life and ensure personal safety.
Headline
Trend
Integrated Plastic Manufacturing: Industry Applications and Development Trends
Modern manufacturing faces challenges of small-batch diversity, high customization, and shortened time-to-market. Traditional segmented outsourcing models struggle to respond effectively. Mold design, injection molding, and post-processing are handled by different vendors, often causing unstable delivery schedules, significant quality variations, and difficulty in making changes. To address these trends, the industry is accelerating toward integrated one-stop manufacturing services. Chiakuan Industrial Co., Ltd. has long focused on providing comprehensive plastic manufacturing solutions, covering mold design, injection molding, surface treatment, and assembly and packaging. This fully meets companies demands for one-stop outsourcing, significantly improving development efficiency and delivery quality, while enhancing rapid market response and competitiveness.
Headline
Trend
Edible Film Packaging: The Delicious and Eco-Friendly Solution
Imagine a candy wrapper you don't have to unwrap and that doesn't become trash. Would you eat it or throw it away? With modern technology advancing daily, the food packaging industry has developed edible film packaging to keep up with sustainability trends, allowing you to eat the protective layer directly while enjoying your food.
Headline
Trend
From Trade Wars to Bubble Tea: When Global Tariffs Impact a Local Industry
In today's globalized world, changes in a country's trade policies can have far-reaching consequences. A single tariff agreement or trade barrier not only affects large-scale international commodity trading but can also subtly alter our daily consumption habits. When this wave of trade protectionism sweeps across the globe, even Taiwan's most iconic cultural exportbubble teacannot remain untouched. In the following, we'll delve into how tariffs impact the bubble tea industry's supply chain and the challenges and opportunities they present.
Headline
Trend
The Evolution and Challenges of Five-Axis Machining: Future Directions for High-Complexity Manufacturing
Five-axis machining technology marks a major leap for the manufacturing industry, moving from traditional three-axis methods to advanced machining. It enables the production of complex, multi-angled parts in a single setup, significantly boosting both efficiency and precision. 91Ƶever, to fully unlock the potential of five-axis machining, companies need more than just costly equipmentthey also require skilled operators, rigorous process management, and the support of smart manufacturing technologies such as AI, automation, and digital simulation. Looking ahead, five-axis machining will continue evolving toward greater precision, environmental sustainability, and hybrid manufacturing, integrating sustainable principles to help businesses strengthen their competitiveness. Overall, five-axis machining is not merely an equipment upgrade, but a comprehensive transformation that blends technology, talent, and managementmastering these elements will be the key to business success.
Headline
Trend
Machine Tools Can Be Green Too: A New Take on Carbon Reduction Through Equipment Efficiency
As global carbon emission regulations become increasingly stringent, the manufacturing industry is facing growing pressure to reduce its carbon footprint. Due to their long operating hours and high energy consumption, machine tools have become a critical focus in carbon management. This article highlights that by choosing high-efficiency machine tools, optimizing machining processes, and implementing intelligent systems, manufacturers can significantly cut energy use and carbon emissionswhile also boosting productivity and operational stability. Green efficiency is no longer just an option; it's a necessary path for manufacturing to achieve sustainability and stay competitive.
Agree