A company is awarded an important contract. While the demands for production have risen, the manufacturing facility does not have an increase in floors or more experienced workers. While adding a second shift could temporarily boost production, it could also create new jobs as well as training, supervision, and demands for quality-control.
Image credit: automatedsolutions.com.au
These kinds of situations reveal the importance of robotic automation. Robotics doesn’t just mean replacing human workers with machines. It can be used to change the way manufacturers utilize their current production capacity.
Look at the Seconds That Aren’t able to be found between the products
Manufacturing inefficiency doesn’t have to be evident. If an operator takes 15 minutes putting a piece of equipment in place for 10 seconds, then another 10 seconds applying materials, and then several seconds moving it to the next process. The difference may seem insignificant for a single part. When repeated a thousand times the seconds could result in significant production delays.
This is also true of wasted material. A small amount of additional coating or dispensing materials in a huge production run can result in a significant expense.
Companies looking into robotic automation Australia projects may gain from examining these minor frequent losses prior to making a decision on the equipment they require. The analysis provided by ASA is designed to reveal problems with quality and bottlenecks, as in addition to waste and other constraints in a project.
Robots need to be able fit into the process.
The choice of a robotics system represents only one decision in engineering. Guardings, tools, controls sensors, conveyors, and fixtures might also be needed. Engineers must consider the reach of the robot and its payload, in addition to how it interacts with its environment and how it will move.
ASA’s approach for FANUC robot automation is to use conceptual development and design, CAD Simulation, and offline programming. The digital simulation allows engineers to examine configurations, estimate cycle time and allow them to test the system prior to making it operational on the customer’s floor. This is particularly helpful when space is limited or when new robotics have to integrate with an established production line.
Paint and Dispensing Shows Why Replicability is Critical.
Controlled movement is crucial for certain manufacturing processes. Imagine coating hundreds or thousands of components. It’s not enough just to finish every component quickly. From the moment of starting production all the way to the finish moving, speed as well as the distance to be applied must be managed.
ASA has specialists working with painting and dispensing applications across a variety of industries, including automotive and aerospace. In these environments, industrial robotic automation can provide repeatable programmed movement while also reducing employee exposure to physically demanding or potentially hazardous processes.
Better control may also reduce unnecessary material consumption, contributing to less waste, as well as productivity improvement.
Installing the system is not enough. You will require people to maintain it.
Automation doesn’t substitute for manufacturing expertise. It transforms the knowledge needed to run and maintain the process.
Employees must be able to safely operate equipment, recognize abnormal behavior as well as troubleshoot issues and perform appropriate maintenance. The production requirements can also change, meaning the processes and programs could require adjustments later on.
ASA provides training on site that covers programming, safety as well as troubleshooting techniques and electrical and mechanical maintenance. Additionally, the company provides maintenance and ongoing support to monitor the condition of equipment and address wear and tear over the course of its operating life.
Capacity is the capacity to work more quickly
In Australia, increasing capacity for production doesn’t always mean hiring more workers for repetitive tasks or purchasing larger buildings. It is sometimes better to ask if the production process can be modified.
ASA has been developing and integration of automation solutions since 2002. It provides support to manufacturers in Australia and international projects. Its method of analysis combines needs, engineering simulation, FANUC integration, training and servicing.
Automating for automation’s sake isn’t a goal. Any system that is worth investing in will provide a manufacturer with tangible results, which include more reliable production, higher quality, safer procedures, reduced waste or increased capacity.