Machine vision on the factory floor: the basics that decide projects
Optics, lighting, and pass/fail discipline matter more than the algorithm. A practical map of inspection, guidance, and identification.
Machine vision
Camera-based inspection, measurement, identification, or guidance.
Using cameras, optics, lighting, and image-processing or AI models to inspect parts, guide robots, read codes, measure geometry, or detect defects. Reliable deployments control lighting, fixturing, and acceptance thresholds.
See also: Robotics · First-pass yield (FPY) · Traceability
Use the concept: Automation ROI & payback calculator
In depth
Automation ROI and payback: a business case operations can verify
Separate installed cost, cash savings, released capacity and recurring expenses, then test a conservative scenario before approving automation.
Line balancing and bottleneck capacity: work from the constraint
Estimate serial-line capacity, distinguish parallel lanes from stations, and use a small observation study before adding automation.