The lights-sparse versus the lights-out factory

The concept of a “lights-out” factory – one in which the requirements for human activity are so minimal that the facility can operate in the dark – has been around for decades, but the digital and automation technologies needed to make it a reality at scale are just now maturing. At the same time, new market trends and perennial issues like questions about labor versus automation are making the realization of the lights-out factory that much more challenging. Using quantified examples, this white paper describes both the challenges and current opportunities presented by a lights-out approach. It emphasizes feasible deployment that provides realistic value to manufacturers, such as automating repetitive or monotonous work.