Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1537054
JULY 2025 I SMT007 MAGAZINE 61 S M A RT AU TO M AT I O N What to Watch Out For While Industry 4.0 offers real benefits, it's easy for a mid-size manufacturer to derail. Here are com- mon pitfalls to avoid: • Trying to simultaneously implement multi- ple improvements: Prioritize based on ROI, and phase the approach. Trying to implement too many new processes at one time can spread staff too thin, even when automation is the ultimate labor re-allocator. • Investing in automation without process clarity: Automating a broken process simply creates poor results more quickly. Prioritiz- ing the understanding of the process leads to successful investment evaluations and bet- ter results. • Underestimating culture shift: Keep inter- faces simple, and train staff well. Adoption matters more than capability, and success depends on training and buy-in. • Ignoring cybersecurity: Even modest net- works need protection from intrusion, mal- ware, or IP theft. Conclusion: Smart Doesn't Have to Be Expensive Industry 4.0 isn't only for the giants. Mid-sized electronics manufacturers have as much to gain. With modular, affordable tools, there's no reason to sit on the sidelines. Identify where the pain is, use the data that already exists, and choose tools that grow with the manufacturer. SMT007 Josh Casper is a regional sales manager for Horizon Sales. To read past columns, click here. Light conversion technology developed by Uni- versity of Queensland researchers will be used for wearable X-ray devices that make respiratory scans more comfortable for young children. Associate Professor Jingwei Hou from UQ's School of Chemical Engineering has been award- ed a $1.6 million Investigator grant from the Nation- al Health and Medi- cal Research Council (NHMRC) to produce a flexible, glass-based X-ray imaging detec- tor that can be worn in a hoodie or blanket to provide a quick and accurate picture of a child's lungs. Hou said the project was inspired by the thought of his own young children being distressed by a noisy MRI machine and potentially having to be sedated or restrained in order to obtain an accurate scan. "Staying still during a lengthy scan under a big ma- chine isn't easy for adults, let alone young, overwhelmed children who are already unwell and distressed in an un- familiar and daunting clinical environment," said Hou. Current X-ray technology merely captures a flat projection of a 3D object, meaning numerous scans from different angles are required to render com- puted tomography (CT) results, potentially leading to high radiation exposure. To solve the issue, Hou will adapt his patented quan- tum dot hybrid glass technology into thin film strips that conform to the contour and movement of a child's body and can be worn like a favorite blanket or jumper. "My quantum dot technology makes use of a fami- ly of materials known for their unparalleled light con- version and emission efficiency," Hou said. "By assembling these materials into thin, flexible X-ray detectors, I can create a wearable X-ray detec- tor that is both comfortable while still providing high- resolution imaging of lung structure." (Source: University of Queensland) Light Conversion Tech To Power Wearable X-rays for Children