A significant contract is won by the manufacturer. Production requirements for the month rise, but the facility does not suddenly gain floors, employees with experience or even hours per daytime. An increase in production for a short period could be possible, however adding another shift can bring new labor requirements as well as training, supervision, and quality control.
Image credit: automatedsolutions.com.au
This situation reveals a key motive behind robotic automation. It’s not just about replacing people with the aid of a machine. In the right application it could alter the way manufacturers make use of the resources they already have.
Have a look at the seconds that disappear between the products
Inefficiency in manufacturing doesn’t have to be dramatic. For instance, suppose an operator is spending 15 seconds positioning a component after which another 10 seconds are spent applying material, and several more minutes transferring it onto the next task. For a single component, the difference in time is not significant. If repeated thousands of times, but those seconds turn into important production times.
The same is true for wasted material. The same is true for waste material.
The companies that are considering robotic automation Australia will benefit from looking at these small, repetitive losses before they decide which equipment to buy. The analysis by ASA’s experts is designed to pinpoint bottlenecks and quality issues, as also waste and other constraints during a project.
The robot should fit the system around it.
The decision to choose a robot represents only one decision in engineering. Tools, guardings, controls, sensor, conveyors and fixtures could also be required. Engineers should take into consideration reach, payload and how the robot is going to move and interact in its environment.
ASA’s approach for FANUC robot automation includes concept development, system design, CAD Simulation, and offline Programming. Digital simulation lets engineers test configurations and estimate cycle times before the completed system is put into operation on the customer’s factory floor. It’s especially useful when there’s a finite amount of space or the new robotics has to integrate with a production line.
Painting and Dispensing Show Why Repetability is Important
Certain manufacturing processes show the importance of controlled movement. Imagine covering hundreds of components. The ability to finish components in a short time is the desired outcome. It is important to control the speed, distance, and movement of each piece from the beginning until the at the very end.
ASA is a specialist in painting and dispensing systems 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.
The elimination of waste and the increase in productivity is possible by better control.
The System Needs Personnel After Installation
Automation is not a complete solution to the need for expertise in manufacturing. It requires new skills for operating and maintaining the manufacturing process.
Employees should be aware of how to safely operate equipment, recognize abnormal behavior, troubleshoot faults, and carry out the correct maintenance. The production requirements can also alter, which means that programs and processes may need adjustments later on.
ASA provides on-site training in safe operation, programming, troubleshooting, in addition to maintenance for electrical and mechanical components. It also offers servicing and ongoing support to monitor the condition of equipment and address problems that arise over the system’s operational duration.
Capacity is more than working faster
For Australian manufacturers, increasing capacity doesn’t mean purchasing larger buildings or adding workers to repetitive processes. The best question to ask is whether the existing production process can still be improved.
ASA has been developing and integrating automation solutions since 2002. It assists companies in Australia and also international projects. Its method combines the analysis of requirements and engineering, simulations, FANUC robotic integration, training, and also servicing.
Automation is not the only goal. A system worth investing in should offer a manufacturer measurable results, like more reliable production, higher quality, safer methods with less waste, or a greater capacity.