Interview
"Just start small"
How can small and medium-sized companies get started with robotics and networked production and where is the trend in production heading after the coronavirus crisis and the war in Ukraine? Patrick Theobald, Managing Director of Peakboard, talked about this in an interview with Daniel Schilling.
What are the main hurdles that small and medium-sized companies face when they want to introduce IIoT and robotics technologies in production?
One of the biggest hurdles for SMEs is finding the right entry point for them. Buzzwords and big promises of salvation lurk everywhere and it is difficult to assess whether they are hot air or offer real added value. My advice is to simply start small, select a specific process and then iteratively build up a digitalization flow that becomes anchored in people's mindsets. Companies can also get external support for this.
Which current technologies and concepts, or those that are close to market maturity, can help to overcome these problems?
Personally, I see digital store floor management as one of the biggest drivers. The many printed Excel spreadsheets and analogue pieces of paper that can be found almost everywhere are a real invitation to digitalize them consistently. There are many providers for this. The most important point here: perfect UI for the end user. This is one of the keys to success. Every digital interaction must function as smoothly as the smartphone that people use in their private lives.
The last 26 months have profoundly changed the world and the economy. What impact will this have on longer-term trends such as Industry 4.0 or the introduction of robotics?
We are at the beginning of a massive deglobalization triggered by corona. This means that we will see much more production back here in a high-wage country. This can only succeed with consistent digitalization and automation of all processes. Anyone who is not at the forefront here will be able to switch off the lights very quickly. However, I also believe that, despite automation, employees will once again take center stage in production in the future. I think it would be fatal to neglect the human factor.
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