A significant contract is won by the manufacturer. The production requirement for each month increases but the company has no room and has employees with previous experience or additional hours in the daytime. A temporary increase in production may be possible, but adding another shift can introduce new requirements for labor education, supervision, training and quality control.
This situation reveals a key reason for robots. Robotics doesn’t just mean replacing human beings with machines. When used in the right way it can alter how manufacturers make use of the resources they have.
Image credit: automatedsolutions.com.au
Look at the Seconds That Aren’t able to be found between the products
Inefficiency in manufacturing doesn’t have to be noticeable. Imagine a worker spending 15 seconds looking for a particular component and then 10 seconds putting it into the material and then moving it. On a single part, the difference is insignificant. If repeated thousands of times however the second can increase production by a significant amount.
It is the same with waste material. Multiplying a small amount of extra coating or dispensing substances over a long production line can lead to substantial costs.
Companies considering robotic automation Australia projects can benefit from examining these small, repeated losses before deciding what equipment they need. ASA’s needs analysis aims to find bottlenecks and the quality of work, waste and other limitations to process that could impact an automation project.
A Robot must be able to integrate the Process Itself
A robot is only one of many engineering options. Tooling, guardings, controls sensors, conveyors and fixtures might also be needed. Engineers must consider the reach and payload of the robot while determining how the robot can move around its work area and interact with everything around it.
The FANUC approach of ASA’s approach to robot automation encompasses concept development, system design as well as CAD Simulation and offline Programming. The digital simulation allows engineers explore configurations, estimate cycle times and test the system prior to making it in operation on the floor of the customer’s. This is particularly beneficial when space is limited or when new robotics need to be integrated with an established production line.
The importance of repeatability when painting and dispensing
Certain manufacturing processes illustrate the importance of controlled movements. Imagine covering a variety of components. The ability to finish components in a short time is the goal. The distance, movement, rate, and even the application needs be managed from the start of the production process until the point of completion.
The experts at ASA are proficient in painting and dispensing across different industries such as automotive and aerospace. In these environments, industrial robotic automation can allow for repeatable, programmed movements as well as limiting exposure for employees to physically demanding or potentially hazardous processes.
Reduced waste and improvement in productivity could be achieved through better control.
Even after installation it still needs people
Automation does not eliminate the requirement for knowledge in manufacturing. Automation changes the skills needed to manage and control the process.
Employees must be taught to operate equipment in a safe manner and to recognize abnormal behavior as well as troubleshoot components that are malfunctioning and carry out necessary maintenance. Production requirements may also change, meaning processes and programs may require modification later.
ASA provides on-site training in safe operation, programming, troubleshooting, as well as maintenance of electrical and mechanical systems. It also offers servicing and ongoing support to check the condition of the equipment and deal with problems that arise over the system’s operational life.
Capacity is greater than working faster
Increased capacity for Australian manufacturing companies doesn’t mean buying a bigger building or adding more employees to routine processes. The better question to ask is whether the existing manufacturing process is able to be improved.
ASA has been developing and integrated automation systems since 2002. It has assisted manufacturers in Australia as well as projects around the world. Its method of analysis connects needs and engineering with simulation FANUC robot integration, training, and servicing.
Automation is not the only goal. A good system will give the manufacturer something tangible in the form of more reliable production with consistent quality, safe processes, less waste, or more capacity from the existing factory.
