{"id":2514,"date":"2022-10-14T19:16:53","date_gmt":"2022-10-14T19:16:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.axcontrol.com\/blog\/?p=2514"},"modified":"2022-10-14T19:17:14","modified_gmt":"2022-10-14T19:17:14","slug":"how-to-manage-obsolescence-in-industrial-automation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.axcontrol.com\/blog\/2022\/how-to-manage-obsolescence-in-industrial-automation\/14\/10\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Manage Obsolescence in Industrial Automation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Technological advancements are wonderful things, but they also come with their fair share of hurdles. One of the most significant things people in automation must overcome is obsolescence\u2014with quickly changing processes, you never know when something will go the way of the dodo. Read on to learn how to manage obsolescence in industrial automation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Is Industrial Automation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Previous industrial revolutions brought the world machinery that could do tougher jobs than humans could handle. The newest industrial revolution gives humans the ability to hand off the work of operating <\/em>those machines to autonomous systems, including artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As with any revolutionary event, there are many people who shy away from the changes. Some believe that industrial automation will hurt the job market, but that does not necessarily need to be the case. If a company is committed to keeping on their staff, the costs they save on the factory floor can go right back into their workers, training employees who once operated machines to do other tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s important to remember that automation is not a purely positive process. Despite increasing productivity, automated systems come with high price tags and potentially a reduction of ethical human oversight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Defining Obsolescence<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The literal definition of obsolescence is \u201cthe act of becoming no longer produced or used; out of data.\u201d In industrial marketing, obsolescence can refer to a few different functions, from parts that cease production to resources that become impossible to obtain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most of the time, obsolescence comes from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM)\u2014when they stop producing a given part, the main source of acquisition is cut off. They may be upgrading to a new version of the part, or they may be going out of business themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Types of Obsolescence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When talking about industrial automation, you need to understand the various types of obsolescence you may encounter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aesthetic obsolescence<\/strong>. This occurs when the look or style of equipment phases out. While style isn\u2019t everything, it can impact the equipment and parts available to you for replacements. For instance, a machine\u2019s shell from the 1970s will be incredibly difficult to replace.<\/li>
Economic obsolescence<\/strong>. You\u2019ll see economic obsolescence when there are more affordable alternatives to produce. No manufacturer wants to spend money making something less efficient, so when new ways to produce are discovered, you can expect older products to become obsolete.<\/li>
Functional obsolescence.<\/strong> This happens when an item has outdated design features that are difficult to update. For instance, in a world of touchscreen smartphones, Blackberry\u2019s keypad fell off the face of the planet.<\/li>
Legal obsolescence<\/strong>. Laws are constantly changing and evolving, which can impact what parts can and cannot be produced. When shifting legal waters prohibit production, parts can cease production due to legal obsolescence.<\/li>
Technological obsolescence.<\/strong> Just as laws are ever in motion, so too is technology. When major shifts and advancements happen, you can expect to see older products phased out in favor of updated tech.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
What Obsolescence Can Do To Your Facility<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Most of the time, it\u2019s possible to move forward with obsolescence\u2014parts, resources, and services that are obsolete are usually still accessible, but for a higher price. However, that \u201chigher price\u201d may be much higher in some cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You need to consider that it isn\u2019t only a hard-to-find part that\u2019s needed to fix an obsolete machine; you will also need to find someone who is knowledgeable about a piece of technology that is no longer in circulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, there are often replacements available that come from parts still in production. Most of the time, when something is discontinued, it is replaced with a similar, slightly improved product. Depending on what you need to fix your machine, the updated product may have a very similar part that you can retrofit as a substitute for the exact part that\u2019s broken.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Every once in a while, though, an exact substitute is the only thing that will do the trick. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to have a plan for what your company will do about obsolescence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Set Up a Diverse Strategy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
With any given industrial automation facility, you have tons of different pieces of equipment that will all require repair from time to time. In order to effectively manage all these moving parts, you\u2019ll need a diverse strategy that addresses multiple factors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Set up a team that keeps track of all your equipment and the condition that your machines are in. This will help you understand what is needed before things begin to break down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Risk Assessment Tactics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
When you\u2019re building your plan, be sure to take risk management into account. You should prioritize the systems most vital to your business\u2014if a machine goes down, how much will it impact your productivity? You shouldn\u2019t fully disregard systems that won\u2019t affect you as much, but you can put them lower on the priority list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Have an Emergency Plan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Even with a team of people trying to keep an eye on all your equipment, emergencies willhappen. When they do, it\u2019s better to have an emergency plan to get you back up and running than to experience indefinite downtime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whether you hire out for repairs or you have an internal team, make sure to have a quick response protocol so you can get eyes on the problem as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Organize Everything<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Many facilities have excess parts and manuals for when things go wrong. The best thing you can do to set yourself up for success when something breaks down is to keep all your parts and manuals well-organized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Understand That Obsolescence Isn\u2019t the End of the World<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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