Produce more efficiently without sacrificing quality and flexibility – that is the challenge facing many manufacturing companies. Automation offers opportunities. In an automated process, how do you ensure that customization and human expertise are not lost?
In this blog, Lex Miller, Production Engineer at DIS Sensors, explains how automation is used to make production processes smarter while maintaining the unique strength of DIS Sensors-customization and collaboration.
The balance between automation and flexibility
DIS Sensors develops and manufactures sensors for various markets. Because many of these products are customized for specific applications, full automation is not always feasible. “Many companies are fully committed to automation, but in our case, the diversity of products is so great that you can’t just have one standard production line” explains Lex.
Still, there is plenty of investment in smart automation. “Wherever possible, we apply automation, especially to improve repetitive processes. We also ensure that people continue to play a central role in our production process. Our production workers are given other duties and remain involved.
How DIS Sensors combines customization with automation
At DIS Sensors, automation starts small and the process is improved step by step. A good example of this is the injection process of sensors. Lex explains, “What was once a manual process with a cup of resin has now become a controlled and reproducible process. And if we want to fully automate in the future, we can do that because we are preparing the machines accordingly.”
Another example is the development of a new configurator, which will soon allow customers to put together a customized sensor online. “The customer selects specifications, and a production order is generated immediately based on those specifications. This lowers the error rate and speeds up the process tremendously.”
Cooperation between R&D and production
An important aspect of automation at DIS Sensors is the close collaboration between R&D and production. “We develop our own tooling, tailored to our production needs. This means that software settings directly affect the production process,” says Lex.
A concrete example of this is our database ‘Lab 4’. In this central database, all our production tests and calibrations are logged. “This was a bottleneck in production, but through smart automation, this has been solved and is being worked on for further optimization. This will enable us to reduce lead time and further increase quality.”
Future-oriented automation
At DIS Sensors, automation is seen as a way to make processes smarter and support employees. “We are not just going to automate everything; we look at where it adds value. For example in processes that are dangerous or physically demanding, such as laser marking or complex assembly.”
In addition, data analytics is playing an increasing role. “We are building systems where each product is given a digital fingerprint so that we can track and analyze production data. This will not only help with quality control, but also further optimization.”
Automation with an eye on the future
At DIS Sensors, automation is never the goal. It is used as a means to work better and smarter. “We continue to invest in technology, we do not lose sight of the human factor in the process. Ultimately it’s all about a balance between efficiency, flexibility and quality.”
Want to learn more about DIS Sensors’ innovative manufacturing techniques? Check out our products or contact us!
