Robotics aligns very well with Industry 4.0 initiatives: Vishal Dahiya

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Robotics aligns very well with Industry 4.0 initiatives: Vishal Dahiya

Robotics aligns very well with Industry 4.0 initiatives: Vishal Dahiya

Interviews
Nov 29,24

In this interview with Rakesh Rao, Vishal Dahiya, Associate Director, Factory Automation System, Panasonic Smart Factory Solutions India, highlights on the growing demand for smart factories as India emerges are one of the major manufacturing hubs globally.

Robotics aligns very well with Industry 4.0 initiatives: Vishal Dahiya

With India emerging as the world's third most sought-after manufacturing destination, smart factories market is experiencing significant growth in the country. We can expect more investment towards digitization to meet the growing industrial demands of India, states Vishal Dahiya, Associate Director, Factory Automation System, Panasonic Smart Factory Solutions India (PSFSIN), during this interview with Rakesh Rao.

Why are robots important for India to become world’s major manufacturing hub?

Over the last 6-8 years, the country has witnessed rapid adoption of automation/digitization. The pandemic has been one of the key drivers for the adoption of the Industry 4.0 concept. Additionally, with the advent of new-age technologies such as 5G, IoT, AI to name a few, we can expect more investment towards digitization to meet the growing industrial demands of India. At Panasonic Smart Factory Solutions (PSFSIN), we view robotics not just as tools but as enablers of transformation—driving efficiency, precision, and scalability. They ensure consistent quality, reduce human error, and enable high-volume production at competitive costs, making "Made in India" synonymous with excellence.

Moreover, robotics aligns very well with Industry 4.0 initiatives by integrating seamlessly with IoT, AI, and data analytics, empowering manufacturers to adapt to market demands in real time. They also play a crucial role in addressing workforce challenges, such as upskilling and ergonomics, allowing human talent to focus on innovation and strategic tasks.

How is your company aiding the growth of India’s manufacturing sector?

India is the third most sought-after manufacturing destination in the world and has the potential to export goods worth $ 1 trillion by 2030. Aligned with this momentum, the smart factories market in India is experiencing significant growth, driven by the adoption of advanced technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and automation. Industries such as automotive, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and food and beverages are increasingly adopting smart factory solutions (that include robots and cobots) to enhance productivity and competitiveness. The rollout of 5G technology is enhancing communication and coordination within smart factories, enabling more seamless operations. Additionally, initiatives such as the National Manufacturing Policy and Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes, are also working as a catalyst to demand and growth.

Backed by Japanese excellence, Panasonic Smart Factory Solutions is manufacturing and selling digitally-controlled welding machines, SMT (Surface Mount Technology), and robotic production lines to cater to the demands of diverse sectors. The facility also offers integrated smart manufacturing solutions propelled by the adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT), industrial robots, and process automation in manufacturing plants. We started with a focus on the automotive industry, and over the years, we have expanded to cater to other sectors such as infrastructure, power, railways, and agriculture equipment (like tractor and other agricultural equipment).

In which areas AI-driven robots are showing significant promise?

We integrate intelligent capabilities into our robotics solutions to enable precision, flexibility, and predictive capabilities in manufacturing environments. AI-driven robotics is showing significant promise in applications like predictive maintenance, where robots equipped with AI can monitor equipment health and predict failures before they occur, reducing downtime and enhancing productivity. In quality inspection, robots with AI capability leverage computer vision to identify defects with unparalleled accuracy, ensuring consistent product quality. AI can also enable robots to perform complex tasks such as dynamic assembly, where they can adjust processes based on real-time data inputs.

What are your plans to further grow your robotics business in India?

Panasonic Smart Factory Solutions India (PSFSIN) enables OEMs to transition from traditional manufacturing to advanced smart manufacturing technologies. Leveraging cutting-edge solutions like machine-to-machine communication and IoT connected with the Panasonic MirAIe Profactory platform, PSFSIN enhances automation, communication, and self-monitoring, allowing issues to be analysed without human intervention. We are engaged in promoting Arc Welding robot systems and SMT (Surface Mount Technology - PCB board assembly automation system) to cater to the demands of diverse industry sectors.

We provide following platforms to customers:

MirAIe Profactory: Panasonic has developed an IIOT platform MirAIe Profactory to connect with machines on shopfloor to acquire the data for data visualization, and data analysis providing deep insights to suggest customers to improve operational efficiency. By connecting our robots and SMT machines with the MirAIe Profactory platform, we can support customers to get improved performance from our machines.
Pana CIM: Complete traceability solutions for plants - material verification, traceability, maintenance, enterprise link, product monitoring and despatch, product changeover and control, material control and process tracker.
Integrated welding network box (IWNB): A function which collects, records, and analyses data for welding robots data capturing automatically, data visualization and analytics. With IWNB the customers can get traceability data and improve the productivity and quality in your factory.
Weld data management: This solution helps to improve welding machine utilization and quality and reduce operational costs, also can monitor solution features, where users can maximise production by monitoring and improving OEE, and reduction in machine downtime by predictive maintenance.
Production management system (PMS): Robot real-time monitoring software for product management, the status of robot operation including running /stopped, arc welding waveform, and results of welding quality monitor can be checked from outside of the production line in real-time.

Further, we work closely with customers to ensure optimum productivity and quality level for their production with our strong technical process knowledge and data analytics skills as the total solution provider. We provide skill development through its state-of-the-art welding training centre in Haryana, on-site training, and collaborations with industry associations and institutes to enhance manufacturing competitiveness.