Issue link: https://resources.mouser.com/i/1529320
mouser.com/te 3 FOREWORD F or decades, manufacturing relied on predictable, linear processes designed more for efficiency than flexibility. Henry Ford's assembly line changed the production process, allowing mass manufacturing at an unmatched scale. However, today's demands for customization, speed, and adaptability have tested the limits of these traditional systems. As industries evolve, the architectures that power them must also evolve. Today's engineers focus on embracing flexibility, modularity, and connectivity to succeed. Machine-to- machine communication now creates vast amounts of data across spaces. Homes, offices, and cars are all connected. Products and environments are becoming more intelligent, safer, and greener. But one of the most impactful areas of this new revolution is inside the factory, where new types of interconnectivities are transforming manufacturing. Automation and data-driven intelligence continue to change the manufacturing industry. Factories no longer need to rely on rigid processes; instead, they are becoming more dynamic, with machines and systems that can instantly adapt to changing variables. Collaborative robots (cobots), equipped with torque and proximity sensors, work alongside humans and can adjust to their surroundings. Modular production cells perform tasks within larger production processes. Predictive maintenance, which monitors equipment conditions and anticipates when maintenance is needed to prevent failures, plays a crucial role in keeping production lines running smoothly and avoiding costly downtime. At the same time, all these changes allow for safer workplaces. However, every transformation comes with its own challenges. As we reposition to include advancements like decentralized, modular manufacturing, companies must figure out ways to integrate technologies like Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) or AI-driven sensors into existing systems. The key to this will be connectivity. Designing for the Next Wave of Intelligent Manufacturing TE Connectivity Decentralization requires connectivity solutions that can support communication between autonomous components. While trying to achieve this goal, performance and reliability cannot be sacrificed. New types of interconnectivities, such as power and data integration through SPE and wireless communication technologies, are revolutionizing factory floors. These advancements enable seamless communication across entire processes, making real- time data exchange between machines and systems more efficient than ever. Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) are already optimizing production flows by transporting materials between modular workstations, optimizing routes and production flows in response to real-time data. This shift brings enormous potential for efficiency and sustainability: Factories can minimize waste, better use energy, and rapidly adjust production lines to meet customer demands. This eBook will explore how advancements in automation, connectivity, and intelligent systems solve today's manufacturing challenges. The articles will address specific technologies enabling this shift—from SPE, which simplifies industrial cabling, to cobots that can be reprogrammed instantly and adapt to new tasks while working safely with human operators. Just like the previous revolutions didn't happen overnight, transitioning to smart manufacturing will require a carefully planned strategy. The technology is already here, but it needs successful integration to succeed; this means new planning, investments, and a commitment to building interoperable systems that communicate easily. Engineers will continue to play an instrumental role in making this happen. We are already amid the fifth Industrial Revolution. Those ready to embrace it will lead the way in smart manufacturing and future technologies.