Next-Generation Automation for Efficient Production in the Automotive Industry

Mitsubishi Electric, which enhances factories with Industry 4.0-compatible automation technologies that deliver speed, flexibility and efficiency, is drawing strong interest from the Turkish automotive sector. Automotive factories must operate with real-time, seamless and precise manufacturing processes, emphasized Nurettin Geçgel, Deputy General Manager of Mitsubishi Electric Turkey Factory Automation Systems. He underscored that advanced robot systems enable high-quality and rapid production, contributing to increased production capacity and business volume. Geçgel noted that robots with precision approaching human arm or hand capability provide significant advantages to factories in terms of occupational safety and worker health, particularly in difficult and hazardous operations. He stated that Mitsubishi Electric technology, which can perform planning, work order management, workstation management, inventory tracking, material flow and data collection, operates within an artificial intelligence-like framework for production. Communicating that Mitsubishi Electric's digital factory concept e-F@ctory enables integration of production, maintenance, IT and management departments, Geçgel highlighted the company's pioneering role in light-directed picking systems and forklift automation, which are of critical importance to the automotive sector. Mitsubishi Electric, which brings rapid integration, productivity, flexibility and efficiency to smart factories in the Industry 4.0 era, delivers high value-added solutions to Turkish industry through factory automation systems that provide significant convenience at every stage of production. Mitsubishi Electric, drawing strong interest from the automotive sector, one of the industries implementing digital transformation most rapidly, is capable of serving all units within departments such as pressing, welding, painting and assembly in automotive factories. Stating that the company supplies products to the automotive sector that can directly communicate with PLCs, frequency inverters, servos, operator panels, various SCADA software and MES systems (Manufacturing Execution System) or products capable of setting up MES systems, Nurettin Geçgel, Deputy General Manager of Mitsubishi Electric Turkey Factory Automation Systems, provided information about the brand's activities in this field.

Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Production

Geçgel noted that Mitsubishi Electric technology utilizing MES (Manufacturing Execution System) systems can perform planning, work order management, workstation management, inventory tracking, material flow and data collection, operating within an artificial intelligence-like framework for production. "Including conveyor automation, we collect and manage all information throughout the entire process from the point a vehicle enters production until it reaches the market," he said.

Robots Increase Safety, Production Quality and Business Volume

Emphasizing that intense competition in the automotive sector makes real-time, seamless and precise manufacturing processes mandatory for factories, Geçgel made the following remarks: "Potential disruptions can cause serious cost and reputational losses for automotive manufacturers. At this point, the issue of correct products, services and system solutions within the production process becomes even more important. With the speed and convenience they provide in this critical production process, robots, which are vital, are used extensively in automotive factories. As Mitsubishi Electric, with our robots that have precision approaching the human arm or hand and can perform nearly every operation on the production line, we provide significant value-added to factories in terms of occupational safety and worker health, particularly in difficult and hazardous operations. Through seamless and rapid production, we contribute to increases in both quality standards and production capacity and business volume." Geçgel noted that Mitsubishi Electric's digital factory concept e-F@ctory, the company's answer to Industry 4.0, advanced technology robot systems that can communicate with each other, and MES products are among the prominent products and systems within the scope of automotive factory automation. "One of our strongest areas in automotive automation is light-directed picking systems. We developed the light-directed picking system that assists in picking operations here in Turkey at Mitsubishi Electric. These systems have been operating seamlessly in our customers' factories for more than five years," he stated.