As reported by Britannica in their article, “Manufacturing Applications of Automation and Robotics“, automation plays a crucial role in modern manufacturing, enhancing efficiency and precision across industries. The article categorizes manufacturing automation into three primary types: fixed automation, programmable automation, and flexible automation—each serving distinct production needs.

Fixed automation, also known as hard automation, is best suited for mass production due to its high initial investment but high output efficiency. This type of automation is commonly found in automotive manufacturing, machining transfer lines, and chemical processing. On the other hand, programmable automation allows for batch production with reconfigurable machines, making it ideal for products that require frequent design changes, such as those produced with numerical control (NC) machines and industrial robots. Lastly, flexible automation extends programmable automation by enabling quick, automatic changeovers between different product styles, minimizing downtime and improving productivity.

In addition to these automation types, the article highlights automated production lines and their significance in industries like automotive, metal fabrication, and electronics. Automated transfer lines, which have been in use since 1924, streamline machining and pressworking operations by performing multiple tasks in a sequential manner. Meanwhile, computer numerical control (CNC) and direct numerical control (DNC) technologies further optimize precision manufacturing by automating machine tool movements based on pre-programmed instructions.

Automation has also made significant strides in assembly operations, particularly in electronics manufacturing, where component-insertion machines precisely place electronic components onto printed circuit boards (PCBs). While manual labor is still essential for complex products, automated assembly lines for high-volume goods such as pens, cigarette lighters, and mechanical pencils continue to grow in popularity.

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Article with all rights reserved, courtesy of Britannica.com.