Japan’s Industrial automation and Industry 4.0-Preparing for the leap

Japan has been a pioneer in the development of the automated industrial economy. The country is now able to supply various factory automation products to other regions through its manufacturing hub. It is also a supplier of industrial controls and factory automation systems to other countries. The increasing number of robots and the emergence of AI-enabled robots have led to the development of new technologies that can help companies improve their efficiency and reduce their errors. These innovations have also led to the increasing number of workers and the safety of their workplaces. Besides being a major player in the production of robots, Japan is also a leading supplier of factory automation systems and industrial controls. Five of the top 10 producers in the global factory automation and robots market are based in the country. The country's technological leadership has been instrumental in the development of its industrial automation industry. Being a leader in the development of robotic and automation technologies, Japan is expected to continue its position as a significant contributor to the global industrial economy. According to a 2020 report by IFR, the country is expected to have around 49.9 thousand industrial robots installed annually, which is second only to China. It is also the largest producer of industrial robots in the world, and is expected to continue its position as a leading supplier of these products.

DISTRIBUTED CONTROL SYSTEMS EXPECTED TO WITNESS SIGNIFICANT GROWTH

A distributed control system (DCS) is a process-oriented platform that can be used to manage the various operations of a facility. It can be equipped with a network of sensors, controllers, and actuators to provide a central hub for all of its processes. This type of system can also help facility operators monitor and control their operations. Due to its ability to operate on a closed-loop platform, a DCS is ideal for controlling multiple processes at a single facility. It can also help improve the visibility of a facility's operations. Although the control architecture of a distributed control system includes a level of control that is responsible for overseeing the multiple sub-systems that are connected to it. These include sensors and actuators, which are used to control the flow of materials through the plant. One of the main advantages of a distributed control system is its ability to communicate with other computing elements. This allows it to provide various functions and features, such as monitoring and control of various processes in different industries, such as oil and gas, nuclear, and chemical. In order to achieve better control and precision, various companies are also expected to require controllers. Further, the increasing requirements for flexible and efficient manufacturing processes have prompted the adoption of distributed control systems. These types of systems are also expected to gain widespread acceptance in the energy sector. They can be used to control various processes, such as the flow of materials through a plant, heat exchangers, and water quality. Due to their ability to integrate multiple components, such as safety systems and third-party controls, the adoption of these technologies is expected to continue to grow in the coming years.

INDUSTRIAL ROBOTS TO DOMINATE THE MARKET

Japan is a major player in the production of factory automation systems and robots. Five of the top 10 companies in the global market are Japanese. The country's technological prowess has been instrumental in its continuous emergence as a leader in the field of robotics. Due to the strong demand for its products, Japanese companies are expected to continue to gain market share. The increasing demand for products across various economies has prompted manufacturers to adopt robots to automate certain repetitive processes. The industrial robots market is expected to grow at a steady rate during the next few years. The increasing number of smart factory systems is also expected to fuel the demand for industrial robots.

The emergence of Industry 4.0 has led to the development of new technologies such as collaborative robots and AI-enabled robots. These have allowed companies to improve their efficiency and reduce errors by implementing them in various processes. The increasing number of workplace safety regulations and the improving production capabilities are also expected to drive the demand for robotic systems. As the market for industrial robots is expected to grow at a steady rate during the next few years, the increasing number of end-users and the technological advancements are some of the factors that are driving the market's growth. However, high investments are expected to restrain the market's growth. The rise in the demand for industrial robots was caused by the shortage of workers. This issue was also caused by the implementation of COVID-19 lockdowns. Almost 38 per cent of the Japanese industrial robots and automation technology that were exported were destined for China. Like other international suppliers, Japanese companies also have their facilities in China. These facilities were able to capitalize on the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 by supplying robots to the global market. Japanese suppliers were also able to benefit from the Chinese post-crisis boom. This occurred during the second quarter of 2020 and continued through the second half of the year. The US is also a major export market for Japanese industrial robots and automation technology. As the two countries recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, they are expected to continue contributing to the growth of the Japanese market. Other countries such as China and the US are also expected to benefit from the recovery.

CONCLUSION

The Japanese factory automation and industrial control market is characterized by a relatively fragmented industry. Many companies are also struggling to maintain their market shares due to the lack of innovation. The increasing number of digitization initiatives in the country and the emergence of Industry 4.0 are expected to provide promising opportunities for the market. Even with the various factors that have affected the country's economy, it has still managed to grow at a steady rate. The rise in commodity prices and the impact of COVID-19 have also affected the export and industrial production sectors. Despite the challenges that remain, the overall economy is still expected to continue growing. Despite the positive effects of the COVID-19 and the rising commodity prices, the business sentiment has started to slow down. This is mainly due to the lack of confidence in the country's overall economy. Despite the slow recovery in the income and employment situation, some sectors have started to see improvement. The private consumption and housing sectors have started to recover from the COVID-19 crisis. However, public investment has been weak, and this has led to some weakness in the financial positions of companies. Despite the positive effects of the government's monetary policy, the financial conditions of Japanese companies have remained relatively weak. The financial conditions of Japanese companies have remained relatively weak. The country's consumer price index has been in the range of 0.5 to 1.0 percent. This is due to the rise in energy and other costs. As a result, inflation expectations have also risen.

Pic Courtesy-Possessed Photography at unsplash.com

(The views expressed are those of the author and do not represent views of CESCUBE.)