What does Factorio have to do with automation?
For those unfamiliar with Factorio , here's a brief description:
Factorio is a strategy game where the player mines various resources, researches technologies, builds infrastructure, automates production, and constructs and maintains factories.
The game scenario begins with a less than ideal landing. More precisely, a spaceship crash on an alien planet. The goal of the game is to research a rocket engine in order to leave the planet. However, the resources for this are limited.
Automation starts manually
Everything starts manually – even in Factorio. The player moves their character across the planet, initially searching for resources to build their first factories. It quickly becomes apparent that manual work is tedious. The repetitive steps, in particular, quickly become boring. From this point on, most players try to automate these processes. Resource extraction is automated, as is the processing of raw materials. The goal is to build a perfectly functioning infrastructure. So-called "bottlenecks" are eliminated. This perfects the supply chain. All dependencies are perfectly balanced so that raw materials, which are processed further and further, can be completed on time. You could almost say that, in the role of an "automation genius," we act as conductors, creating a perfectly coordinated symphony orchestra (made of robots).
When I first started out, I realized that the game had many parallels with my work. Automation, or rather test automation, also begins manually. I click my way through the application, run through the process, and consider how I can best automate it. This is how most automation experts start. Automation begins manually. With automation, I also encounter "resource scarcity," just like in Factorio. Here, the raw materials are the test data. This is a very important issue that must be considered in automation.
Careful planning and experience are key
All beginnings are difficult. Those who have already experienced several automation projects or Factorio playthroughs have a clear advantage. It definitely pays off to invest enough time in the initial planning – this makes later maintenance much easier. In my professional career, I've repeatedly seen automation projects being set up too quickly. The concept wasn't well thought out. People want to automate a few tests too fast, without considering the bigger picture. The same applies to Factorio. Most people want to set up the first conveyor belts and automated machines too quickly and later realize they've maneuvered themselves into a dead end in the maze of conveyor belts.
At critical mass, various bottlenecks arise. In Factorio, it's usually the raw material that's lacking. In automation, it's the test data. This is a crucial issue that must be considered in detail for every project and definitely integrated into the automation process.
Please, no chaos
So I can say that there's a connection between Factorio and automation. But does that mean that everyone who specializes in automation is automatically a Factorio pro?
No one is born an automation specialist or possesses an innate talent for automation. These are skills that can be learned. However, these skills alone are not sufficient for a highly automated project. It is experience and passion that make an automation project successful. The same applies to Factorio. Initially, the player may automate a great deal, but over time they realize that expansions become nearly impossible and their factory descends into chaos. Drawing on the knowledge gained from previous projects (or games), the player continuously improves and builds a highly automated project that functions like a perfectly orchestrated symphony.
We support you
At Infometis, we possess the necessary skills and experience in the field of automation. We can provide optimal support for you and your team in automation projects and raise your level of "Professional Automation." If you would like to learn more, you can find my contact details here.
