Benefits of Automated Control Systems
Time is money in business, and most don’t realize the opportunities that can present themselves when you have more time available during the day. If you haven’t considered adding an automated control system to your business, perhaps the next year is a prime opportunity. Automated control systems can offer many benefits to your business, even if you’re not a large manufacturer. Here are some ways that automation may help reduce your costs and offer more benefits to your employees in the future:
Reducing Energy Use and Associated Costs
Supplying the up-front capital expense of adding an automated control system can have a long-term payback in reduced energy usage and associated costs with energy reduction. If you study your electric power bill, you will most likely see two different rates: power use and demand. A control system can reduce the overall use by allowing certain pieces of equipment, or general facility zones, to only be used as needed. You can systematically run a portion of the facility and avoid the large usage of running all equipment and lighting at the same time. An automated system can also reduce the demand of starting multiple pieces of equipment or lighting concurrently. By strategically staggering start-up of sections of the facility, electrical demand charges can be reduced.
Maintaining the Optimum Environment
Heating, cooling, and humidity are three factors that can provide comfort to employees and keep your production running smoothly. Whether you have an office setting that should stay around 70 degrees year-round, or have specific humidity requirements, an automated control system can provide continuous monitoring and adjustment to meet the optimum environmental demands. Some of the better features of current control systems are controlling temperature to a specific range no matter the time of day or the week of the year. Winter, Summer, Spring, or Autumn won’t matter as your control limits keep your environment at ideal settings. Your system can also adjust lighting using blinds to reduce or increase sunlight in your facility. If you have criteria to control, an automated system has an opportunity to do it for you.
Hands-Free Wireless Options
You have probably seen the commercials showcasing wireless technology to control systems in a household setting. Using your smart phone, you can monitor, record, and adjust settings of your automated control systems remotely. The internet has made remote viewing and control easy to do, and it doesn’t require a high-priced control system and software to accomplish. If you have an internet signal, you can control your world.
Boosting Productivity with Safety and Security
Optimizing lighting isn’t just for energy reduction. Lighting can also affect employee productivity and offer better safety and security. Working under lighting that is too bright or too dim can affect an employee’s well-being and working efficiency. Control systems can allow each employee to control their work area lighting to their individual satisfaction. Beyond lighting optimization, occupancy sensors can be controlled with automated systems to turn lighting on and off as employees are in the area to keep them safe and secure without overusing power to do so.
Endless Customization
Automated control systems can be utilized by most businesses whether they are large or small. Whether your business industry is aggregate, forestry, food service or just about any other, we have you covered. A control system has endless customization options and can be tailored to meet your specific criteria. It can be configured to run completely autonomous in the background of your daily operations, or it can require specific monitoring and hands-on adjustment by qualified personnel. You can control energy usage, temperature and humidity, lighting for safety and productivity, and more. One system can be configured to run your business or multiple systems can be linked together.
Automated control systems can monitor and regulate any option to assist your business in running smoothly. The biggest questions always surround what needs to be controlled, what inputs are available, and what outputs are required. Budget doesn’t have to be a limiting factor to obtain optimum results. You may need help deciding what is the best control options for your business, and Automation Electric and Controls can offer support to determine the best choice for your application. AEC is a licensed ETL 508A panel building shop, and we specialize in control systems to assist businesses to run at their best. our work is defined by the quality products we produce. We offer consulting services, are locally owned in the Pacific Northwest, and stock a large inventory of products to keep your business running. When you’re ready for a new custom designed industrial panel, a custom mobile trailer and container, or simply need support and consultation of a future concept, give us a call at (866) 452-6947 or email us at sales@automationelectric.com.
