A manufacturer gets an enormous contract. The production requirement for each month increases but the company does not have enough space and employees with experience or additional hours during the day. While adding another shift might temporarily help, it could also create new jobs as well as training, supervision, and demands for quality-control.
These examples show an important motive for the use of robotic automation. Robotics doesn’t just mean replacing humans with machines. If it is used correctly it can transform the way manufacturers use the production capacity they already have.
Image credit: automatedsolutions.com.au
Take a look at the time intervals between the products
Inefficiency in manufacturing doesn’t have to be dramatic. Imagine an operator spending 15 minutes searching for a part for 10 seconds, then applying the material, then several seconds moving it. On one aspect the difference appears to be insignificant. If repeated thousands of times these seconds can create significant production time.
It’s the same for wasted material. A small amount of additional coatings or dispensing material over a long production run can result in substantial costs.
The businesses that are looking into robotic automation Australia can benefit from looking at these small loss, repeated ones before they choose the equipment they will purchase. ASA’s needs analysis aims to find bottlenecks and problems with quality, waste and other limitations to process that could impact an automation project.
The robot has to fit the system around it.
The choice of a robot is a single decision in engineering. Tooling, guardings, controls as well as conveyors, sensors and fixtures may also be needed. Engineers should consider the payload, reach and range as well as how the robot is going to move and interact in the surrounding.
ASA provides concept development, system design, CAD simulation, and offline programming as part of its approach to FANUC robotic automation. Digital simulation allows engineers to examine configurations and estimate the durations of the cycle before the system is operating on the customer’s factory floor. It’s particularly useful when there is a small amount of space or the new robotics is required to be integrated with the production line.
Dispensing and Paint Shows Why Replicability is Critical.
Some manufacturing processes demonstrate the importance of controlled movement particularly well. Imagine covering a variety of components. It’s not enough just to finish each part quickly. It is important to control the speed, distance and the movement of every component from the beginning until the close of the process.
ASA has experts who work with paint and dispensing application across industries, including aeronautics and automotive. In these environments, industrial robotic automation can offer repeatable programming while also reducing employee exposure to physically demanding or dangerous processes.
A better control of the waste material can also contribute to productivity improvements by increasing the quantity of materials used.
Even after the installation, the system still requires individuals
Automation doesn’t eliminate the requirement for manufacturing knowledge. The knowledge required to manage, maintain, and control the process evolve.
Employees need to be able recognize unusual behavior and resolve problems, as well as take the necessary maintenance. Production requirements can change with time, which means that procedures and protocols will need to be adjusted.
ASA provides training on-site for safe operation, programming, troubleshooting, and electrical and mechanical maintenance. They also provide servicing and support for checking the condition of equipment and addressing wear throughout the lifespan of the equipment.
Capacity Is About More Than working faster
For Australian producers, expanding capacity doesn’t necessarily mean buying a larger building or continually adding more workers to repetitive processes. It is sometimes better to inquire if the manufacturing process can be modified.
ASA has been working on and integration of automation systems since 2002, and has been supporting manufacturers in Australia as well as projects around the world. Its method of analysis connects needs with engineering, simulation, FANUC robot integration training, as well as servicing.
Automation isn’t the objective. A worthwhile system should give the manufacturer something tangible in return more dependable production that is consistent in quality, more secure procedures, less waste or additional capacity from the factory it already operates.