A manufacturer wins a major contract. The monthly production needs increase, but the factory has no room and has employees with previous experience or more hours to work during the daytime. An increase in production for a short period might be possible, but adding another shift can introduce new requirements for labor education, supervision, training and quality control.
This situation reveals a key purpose for robotic automation. Robotics doesn’t just mean replacing human beings with machines. It is able to modify the methods that manufacturers employ to use their existing capacity for production.
Image credit: automatedsolutions.com.au
Check out the seconds that disappear between products
Inefficient manufacturing may not be apparent. A worker may take 15 seconds positioning the component before implementing 10 seconds of materials, and then a few seconds more to move it onto the next stage. On one aspect the difference isn’t that significant. It’s a lot when multiplied by thousands.
The same applies to wasted material. Similar is the case of waste materials.
The businesses that are looking into robotic automation Australia will gain from studying these small routine losses before they choose the equipment they will purchase. The analysis conducted by ASA’s Needs Analysis is designed to uncover bottlenecks and quality issues, waste, and other process constraints that can affect an automation project.
A Robot must be able to integrate the Process Itself
A robot’s selection is only one decision in engineering. Guardings, tools, controls sensors, conveyors, and fixtures might also be required. Engineers must consider reach and payload while also making decisions about how the robot is going to move through its space and interact with the environment surrounding it.
ASA provides concept development, system design, CAD simulation, and offline programming as part of its approach to FANUC robotic automation. Engineers can investigate system configurations and estimate cycle times before the system is finally installed in the factory floor. This is especially useful in situations where space is not available or when new robotics have to integrate with a production line that is already in place.
Dispensing and Paint Shows Why Replicability is Essential
Certain manufacturing processes demonstrate the importance of controlled movement. Imagine covering hundreds of components. The desired result isn’t merely the process of completing every component in a short time. The distance, movement speed, and application need be managed from the start of the production process until the point of completion.
ASA has specialists who work with dispensing applications and paint across all industries, including aeronautics and automotive. In these environments industrial robotic automation is able to offer repeatable programming while reducing exposure of employees to physical demands or potentially dangerous processes.
Better control of the waste material can also help improve productivity by cutting down on the amount of waste material that is consumed.
The installation of the system isn’t enough. You will require people to manage it.
Automation is not a complete solution to the need for manufacturing expertise. It transforms the knowledge needed to run and maintain the manufacturing process.
Employees must be taught to safely use equipment as well as to spot abnormal behavior or malfunctioning components, and complete any necessary maintenance. Processes and programs are able to be changed later if the production needs alter.
ASA offers training on-site covering safety, programming, troubleshooting and mechanical and electric maintenance. The company also provides servicing and support on a regular basis to assess the condition of equipment and address wear and tear over the course of its operating duration.
Capacity is more than working faster
An increase in capacity for Australian manufacturers does not necessarily involve buying a bigger facility or adding additional labor to repeat processes. It’s sometimes more beneficial to ask if the production process can be modified.
ASA has been working on and integrated automation systems since 2002, assisting companies in Australia and projects in other countries. Its methodology combines the analysis of requirements as well as engineering, simulations FANUC robotic integration and training as well as servicing.
The objective isn’t automation for the sake of it. A system that’s worthy of its weight in gold should provide measurable benefits to manufacturers, for example more reliable production, better quality methods, less risky processes, and less waste.