As part of Engineering Lens, the series that highlights the expertise and perspectives of agap2 indústria's professionals, we spoke with Nuno Alas, Product & Industrialization Consultant, about the reality behind industrial automation.

Read the full interview also on our LinkedIn.

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How would you explain your job to someone outside the industry?

I program the "brain" of factory machines. I write the code that determines when a motor starts, when a sensor triggers an alarm, and how different stations communicate with one another.

How do you imagine factories 10 years from now?

They will be more adaptable and less rigid. Today, a production line is typically designed to manufacture a specific product, and reconfiguring it can be a complex task. In the future, we will see more modular manufacturing cells that can almost reconfigure themselves.

AI will will help identify failures before they occur, as well as in real-time process optimization. Collaborative robots will work side by side with people rather than being confined behind safety cages. However, there will still be a need for professionals who understand the manufacturing process.

What is the biggest myth about industrial automation?

That you simply "press a button" and the machine does everything on its own. Effective automation requires a deep understanding of the process first.

Another common myth is that automation takes away jobs. In most cases, it removes repetitive and hazardous tasks from people while creating demand for professionals who can program, maintain, and supervise these systems.

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