A manufacturer gets an important contract. The production requirements for the month increase however the facility doesn’t have more space or employees who have experience or more hours to work during the day. It is possible to add another shift in the short term, but it could also create new work and training, supervision, and quality-control regulations.
Image credit: automatedsolutions.com.au
Situations like this reveal an important purpose of robotic automation. Robotics is not just replacing humans with machines. If it is used correctly it can transform the way manufacturers make use of the resources they have.
Take a look at the seconds that Aren’t able to be found between the products
Inefficiency in manufacturing doesn’t have to be significant. A worker could spend 15 minutes putting the part in place before implementing 10 seconds of materials, and then a few more seconds moving it to the next step. The time difference could seem minor for one component. When repeated thousands of times these seconds can turn into substantial production time.
It’s the same for the waste materials. The same is true for waste material.
Before making a decision on the equipment they need, businesses considering robotic automation Australia can gain from analysing the tiny losses. The needs analysis of ASA is designed to identify bottlenecks, quality issues, waste, and other process constraints that can affect an automation project.
The robot has to fit the process around it
A robot is one of many engineering decisions. It could be necessary to include tooling, guarding and controls, sensors and conveyers, fixtures, electrical integration and communication with the existing production equipment. Engineers must consider the reach and payload of the robot while making decisions about how the robot will move through its workspace and interact with the environment surrounding it.
ASA provides the ability to develop concepts, system design and offline programming as part of its approach to robotic automation. Engineers are able to explore configurations for the system and estimate the number of cycles required before the system is finally installed on the factory floor. This is especially useful when there are space constraints or if new robotics require to be incorporated into existing production lines.
Painting and Dispensing demonstrates why It’s Important to Repeat
Certain manufacturing processes demonstrate the importance of controlled movements. Imagine applying a coating to hundreds of components. It’s not enough just to finish each component in a short time. From the beginning of production through the conclusion all the movements, speed of the machine, the distance and the application have to be controlled.
The experts at ASA are proficient in painting and dispensing across industries such as automotive and aerospace. In these areas, industrial robotic automation offers the ability to repeat, programmed, and controlled movements. It also reduces exposure of employees to potentially dangerous processes.
Reduced wasted materials and an increase in productivity can be achieved through better control.
Installation of the system isn’t enough. You still need people to maintain it.
Automation does not eliminate the need for skilled manufacturing. Automation changes the skills needed to operate and maintain the manufacturing process.
Employees need to be able detect abnormal behavior and identify issues, and perform the appropriate maintenance. Processes and programs can be modified later on if the production needs are changed.
ASA provides training on site in safe operation, programming and troubleshooting, in addition to maintenance for electrical and mechanical components. They also provide servicing and support to check equipment condition, and addressing wear throughout the lifetime of the system.
Capacity is about more than just working faster
A rise in capacity for Australian manufacturers doesn’t necessarily mean buying a bigger building or adding more labor to routine processes. The better question to ask is whether the present manufacturing process could be improved.
ASA has been designing and the integration of automation solutions since 2002. It provides support to manufacturers in Australia, as well as international projects. Its method of analysis combines needs as well as engineering simulation. FANUC integration training, and service.
Automation is not the goal. An investment-worthy system must provide the manufacturer with measurable results, including better production reliability, higher quality, safer processes and reduced waste, or an increase in capacity.