

But there are plenty of hurdles that manufacturers need to focus on as well. The benefits that were listed above, would be enough for any manufacturer to jump for joy and begin immediate implementation for their entire manufacturing process.

Apple closed the factory down in 1992 because there were a few issues that needed to be ironed out before their CNC machines could go fully automated.

In the ironic year of 1984, Apple promised the world they would attempt to be a lights-out factory at their 20-million-dollar Fremont, California plant at only a 2 percent increase in their products MSRP. Drive more advanced maintenance strategies The Challenges of Lights Out Manufacturing Reduce scrap and achieve the best production consistency Reducing accidents and increasing workplace safety The obvious foundation of Lights Out Manufacturing is reducing costs and driving greater overall equipment efficiency (OEE), but also includes: Robots and other automated machines are made of more durable components than their human counterparts and artificial intelligence has yet to try and unionize. The Benefits of a Lights Out Production Floorįull automation can be of exceptional benefit, especially in hazardous manufacturing surroundings such as those with caustic chemicals, fumes, and other harmful materials to humans. Because let’s face it, machines don’t need to eat, sleep or have outside work obligations. Since the 1980s manufacturers have been focusing on adopting lights-out approaches during night shift operations that are traditionally harder for humans to adapt to. Humans are not at the factory to assemble products or move parts around the plant. Employees are hardly ever there for issues other than planned routine maintenance or for on-site emergencies. The facility that FANUC builds its automated machines and robots can operate in a lights-out operational setting for up to 25 days. FANUC, a well-known Japanese manufacturing giant has successfully been operating with “lights out” since 2001. So, what is Lights Out Manufacturing exactly? Quite simply, Lights Out Manufacturing is creating automation processes that are so minute and precise to the point where factory shop floors can literally leave their lights out. Have you ever heard the old industry joke that the factories of the future will be automated to the point that they will only have two employees? A dog to guard the factory and a human to feed it.
