Changing and unchanging technologies for production engineers
In this article, I will talk about "Changing and unchanging technologies for production engineers". In today's world of rapid technological change, there is a lot of pressure to keep learning new things. If the speed of change does not match the speed of learning, then the things you have learned will become useless. On the other hand, it is also true that some things remain constant despite the advance of technological innovation.
1.Necessary skills in the field of production engineering
First of all, I will give you the skills required in the production engineering and manufacturing industry.
The following are the items introduced in job description for production engineering. General production engineering job includes mechanical drawings, CAD, pneumatic and piping diagrams, electrical wiring diagrams, control devices, process design, problem analysis and production line improvement.
Specific technologies include press-fitting, caulking, soldering, welding, insulation characteristics, screw tightening, and electromagnetic characteristics. Equipment field includes PLCs, cameras, multi-axis robots and other control devices.
2.Changing technology in the field of production engineering
First, let's look at the changing technology.
The areas of technological innovation in the items mentioned above are control devices, which are equipment elements, and CAD, which is a drafting tool. These will gradually upgrade in performance in the same way that computer performance upgrades. If the basic specifications change significantly due to factors such as a manufacturer change or the introduction of a new product, you will need to learn how to use it.
In many parts of the world, IT is crossing industry barriers and is becoming more and more popular. This trend is already happening in the manufacturing industry.
Equipment automation and IT. By introducing multi-axis robots and automated transport systems, we can automate tasks that were previously done by humans, and we can also automate inventory control and accounting information automatically in the system. This trend is likely to accelerate.
3.Unchanging technology in the field of production engineering
Next, let's look at the unchanging technologies.
The technologies that remain unchanged in the above categories include individual technologies such as welding and press fitting, machine drawing, process design, problem analysis, and production line improvement.
Press-fitting, caulking, soldering, welding, insulating characteristics, screw-tightening, and electromagnetic characteristics are based on basic engineering and physics and are constant factors from the past to today. Whether it is a hydraulic press or a servo press, the method of press fitting is the same. Even though there may be a slight increase in the number of controllable parts and the accuracy of the information that can be retrieved externally, the press fitting operation is the same.
The concepts of mechanical drawing, process design, problem analysis and production line improvement are also constant factors. Even though equipment has become more automated and IT-based, drawing method itself will not change, nor will the methods of analyzing problems in the field.
Predict the changes that come occasionally
If you can afford it, paying attention to changes in the external environment will also give you an idea of what areas you need to learn about in the future.
- IT-->Introduction of PCs to all equipment (learning communication specifications with PLCs)
- Low price of cameras--> Installation of cameras in equipment (learning the mechanism of camera detection and how to operate equipment)
- Social issues such as exhaust gas cheating --> Revision of TS rules and change to IATF (learning new requirements)
Every once in a while a big change comes along.
For example, 3D printers are an innovative molding technology. If this technology becomes more capable in manufacturing industry, it could eliminate the need for conventional machining and plastic molding machines.
4.What production engineers need to learn in the future
Based on the above, I want to help you understand what you need to learn if you are going to be a production engineer. As mentioned above, there are many things to learn.
I hope that you will be able to apply some of the above-mentioned items to your work, based on what areas of knowledge and skills will be useful in your company's work.
As you become more comfortable with your work, you will learn about the work of other departments, foreign languages and management in order to improve the overall efficiency and productivity of your work. This will further expand the scope of your work.
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