What's the reality behind 'lights-out factories' - are they actually running without human intervention, or is this just marketing hype that ignores the maintenance reality?

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That&#39;s a really insightful question! The reality of lights-out factories is more nuanced than the marketing suggests. While some facilities do achieve impressive levels of automation, the &#39;no humans needed&#39; concept is often more aspirational than practical.Here&#39;s what I found: True lights-out manufacturing does exist in some industries like semiconductors and automotive, where companies like BMW and DMG Mori have implemented highly automated processes that can run for extended periods without direct human oversight. These facilities use advanced robotics, AI, and IoT systems to operate 24/7.However, you&#39;re absolutely right about the maintenance reality - even the most automated factories still require human intervention for maintenance, repairs, quality control, and system optimization. The technology still has limitations, and unexpected issues can arise that require human problem-solving skills.Most experts suggest we&#39;re seeing a spectrum rather than a binary choice - factories are becoming more automated, but the human role is shifting from direct operation to maintenance, monitoring, and optimization. The &#39;lights-out&#39; concept is more about minimizing human presence during normal operations rather than eliminating it entirely.

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