System and method for electric motor control in a manufacturing environment

A method for controlling an electric motor configured to drive at least one moving element on a conveyor in a manufacturing system, the electric motor having a main power source which drives the at least one moving element in a way that would be unsafe for a human to be in proximity to the electric motor, the method comprising:

• monitoring the manufacturing system associated with the electric motor for a change in condition;
• on detecting a change in condition:
• reducing and limiting a power supplied to the electric motor, via a power reduction circuit, to a predetermined non-zero level such that the electric motor continues to operate in a predetermined safe mode, in which the electric motor continues to drive the at least one moving element at lower power without coming to a stop, and in which it is safe for the human to be in proximity to the electric motor.

A method for controlling a linear electric motor in a linear motor conveyor system in a manufacturing environment, the method comprising:

• monitoring the linear motor conveyor system for a change in condition;
• on detecting a change in condition:
• reducing power supplied to the linear electric motor, via a power reduction circuit, to a predetermined non-zero level such that the linear motor conveyor system continues to operate in a predetermined safe mode, in which the moving element continues to move on the linear motor conveyor system but at a lower non-zero speed without coming to a stop, and in which it is safe for a human to be in proximity to the linear electric motor.