Automation: a business case

Automation suppliers have a huge role to play in this. But to answer industry's questions we need to understand your business; and automation also needs to be discussed at Board level. We have to understand what you need to do to add shareholder value - from the costs of manufacture and asset efficiency, to price optimisation and governance; and map on to these drivers where automation helps to add value.

A great example I heard recently pulls two strands together: the need to be more productive and the increasing cost of energy. Let's say you are a small food manufacturer faced with the following dilemma: what do you do when your electricity provider tells you that your production line is making the lights flicker in nearby houses and that you have to put it right or it will turn off your energy supplies?

The answer is to replace equipment with newer drives, motors and controls that conform to more stringent power quality standards. However, the business benefit is more than ensuring continuity of power to your plant. New energy efficient drives and motors allow you to save on your energy bills. Better power quality reduces the maintenance problems on the equipment. Lastly, it keeps you on the right side of the regulations.

Ian Bowman is general manager, group marketing with Siemens Automation & Drives

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