THE LIGHTS-SPARSE VERSUS THE LIGHTSOUT FACTORY PART 2
T
he opportunities presented by the concept of a ‘lights-out’ factory — one in which the requirements for human activity are so minimal that the facility can operate in the dark — was discussed in Part 1 of this article, along with some of the enabling physical technologies available today to make it potentially possible. But there are many challenges still to be overcome, from the emerging need for product customisation and varying labour and skills issues across the world, to entrenched mindsets. In the end, it will be the ongoing increase in digitalisation and advanced software that will make possible lights-out — or at least lights-sparse — manufacturing.
28 PROCESS TECHNOLOGY - JULY 2022
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