A manufacturer is awarded a large contract. The monthly production requirement increases but the company doesn’t have more space and has employees with previous experience or more hours to work during the day. While adding another shift may temporarily improve the situation, it may be a source of new work, supervision, training and requirements for quality control.
This kind of situation reveals an important function of robotic automation. Robotics does not only mean replacing humans with machines. When used in the right way it can transform the way manufacturers make use of the resources they already have.
Image credit: automatedsolutions.com.au
Take a look at the seconds that Aren’t able to be found between the products
Inefficiency in manufacturing doesn’t need to be a major issue. Imagine a worker spending 15 minutes searching for a part and then 10 seconds putting it into the material and several seconds transferring it. The difference might seem small even for a single piece of equipment. When repeated thousands of times these seconds can turn into important production times.
The waste material that is discarded is not different. Similar is the case for waste material.
Companies considering robotic automation Australia projects can benefit from examining these small, repeated losses before deciding what equipment they need. ASA’s analysis of requirements is designed to pinpoint problems with quality and bottlenecks, as well as additional constraints and waste during a project.
The robot must fit the system around it.
The decision to choose a robot is just one aspect of engineering. It may be necessary to add tooling, guarding and controls, sensors conveyors, fixtures, electronic integration, and communications with the current production equipment. Engineers should consider reach and payload while also determining how the robot can move around its work area and interact with the environment around it.
ASA provides conceptual development, design of systems and offline programming as part of its method of robotic automation. Engineers can explore system configurations and calculate cycles prior to when the final system is put in the factory floor. This is particularly helpful when space is limited or when new robotics need to be integrated with a production line that is already in place.
Dispensing and painting demonstrate why Replicability is Crucial
Some manufacturing processes demonstrate the importance of controlled motion particularly well. Imagine coating hundreds or even thousands of parts. It’s not just about completing the components quickly is the desired outcome. From the start of production to the end, the movement, speed, distance and application must be controlled.
ASA’s specialists are experienced in dispensing and painting across various industries including aerospace and automotive. In these industries, industrial robotic automation allows for the ability to repeat, programmed, and controlled movements. It also reduces employee exposure to potentially hazardous processes.
A better management of materials that are discarded can increase productivity by increasing the quantity of material used.
Installation of the system isn’t enough. You still need people to manage it.
Automation does not completely eliminate the need for expertise in manufacturing. It alters the knowledge required to manage and maintain the manufacturing process.
Employees should be able spot abnormal behavior and solve issues, and take the necessary maintenance. Production requirements can change over time, which means that processes and programs will have to be modified.
ASA provides training on site covering safety, programming troubleshooting, and electrical and mechanical maintenance. Additionally, the company provides maintenance and ongoing support to check the condition of equipment and to address problems that arise over the system’s operational duration.
Capacity is the capacity to work faster
For Australian producers, expanding capacity doesn’t necessarily mean purchasing a larger building or continually increasing the amount of labor required to perform repetitive tasks. Sometimes, the best question is whether the present production process can be redesigned differently.
ASA has been working on and integration of automation solutions since 2002. It has assisted companies in Australia and projects internationally. The approach is a combination of needs analysis, engineering simulation, FANUC integration training, and service.
It’s not about automation for the sake of it. A system that’s worthy of the gold it’s worth will be able to provide tangible benefits for an enterprise, including better production reliability, better quality manufacturing processes, and safer ones. It also means less waste.