A company is awarded the contract for a significant amount. The production requirement for each month increases however the facility has no room and has employees with previous experience or additional hours in the day. Although adding another shift may temporarily boost production, it could also create new jobs, supervision, training and the need for quality control.
Image credit: automatedsolutions.com.au
Situations like this reveal an important purpose of robotic automation. It’s not just about replacing human beings with machines. The right application can transform the way that manufacturers use their production capacity.
Check out the amount of time that is lost between the products
Manufacturing inefficiency isn’t always noticeable. Suppose an operator spends 15 seconds arranging a part and then 10 seconds putting it in the material, and a few minutes transferring it onto the next task. On one piece the difference appears to be insignificant. When repeated thousands of times but those seconds turn into an enormous amount of production time.
It’s the same for waste materials. A tiny amount of leftover coating or dispensing material multiplied across a high-volume production run can result in an expense that is significant.
Companies that are considering robotic automation Australia projects may benefit from looking at these small loss events repeatedly before deciding on the equipment they will require. The needs analysis of ASA is designed to find bottlenecks, quality issues, waste, and other constraints to the process that could influence an automation project.
Robots should be able to integrate into the process.
The choice of a robot is just one of the engineering decisions. Tooling, guardings, controls, sensor, conveyors and fixtures may also be needed. Engineers should consider reach, payload and how the robot will operate and interact with its surroundings.
ASA provides concept development, system design and offline programming as part of its method of robotic automation. The digital simulation allows engineers analyze configurations, estimate cycles times, and evaluate the system before it becomes operating on the floor of a customer’s premises. This is especially useful in situations where space is not available or when new robotics have to integrate into an existing production line.
Painting and Dispensing Show Why Repeatability Matters
Controlled movement is especially important in some manufacturing processes. Imagine applying a protective coating to hundreds of parts. It’s not enough to complete each piece quickly. The movement, distance, speed, and the application must to be monitored from the start of the production process until the end.
ASA has specialists who work on dispensing and paint applications across various industries, including aeronautics and automotive. Industrial robotics automation in these areas will allow for repeatable movement as well as limiting the exposure of employees to physically demanding processes or ones that may cause harm.
Better control may also reduce the amount of material used, which can lead to a reduction in waste and productivity enhancements.
Even after the installation the system requires individuals
Automation can’t replace the manufacturing know-how. The skills required to manage, maintain, and manage the process are changing.
Employees need to be able detect abnormal behavior and identify issues, and take the necessary maintenance. Processes and programs can be adjusted later if production requirements shift.
ASA offers on-site training covering safety, programming troubleshooting, and mechanical and electrical maintenance. The company provides ongoing maintenance and servicing to ensure that the equipment is in top condition and wear and tear issues are taken care of.
Capacity is the capacity to work faster
A rise in capacity for Australian manufacturers does not necessarily require the purchase of a larger building or adding more workers to routine processes. The more important question to consider is whether the existing manufacturing process is able to be improved.
ASA has been developing and integrated automation solutions since 2002. It assists the manufacturing industry in Australia, as well as international projects. The approach combines needs analysis, engineering, simulation, FANUC robot integration, training, and servicing.
Automation isn’t the main goal. A system worth investing in will provide a manufacturer with tangible results, which include increased reliability of production, improved quality, safer procedures as well as reduced waste or a higher capacity.