A manufacturing company gets the contract for a significant amount. The production requirement for each month increases however the facility does not have enough space or employees who have experience or more hours to work during the day. An increase in production for a short period may be possible, but an additional shift may bring new requirements for labor education, supervision, training and 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. It can be used to change the way manufacturers utilize their existing production capacity.
Check out the amount of time that is lost between products
Inefficient manufacturing is not always evident. Imagine that an operator has spent 15 seconds positioning a component for 10 seconds, then another 10 seconds applying material, and several more minutes transferring it to the next step. On one piece the difference appears to be insignificant. If repeated thousands of times however these seconds can increase production by a significant amount.
It’s the same with the waste materials. Multiplying a small amount of additional coatings or dispensing material in a huge production run could result in the cost of a large amount.
The companies that are considering robotic automation Australia can benefit from studying these small repeated losses prior to decide which equipment to buy. The needs analysis of ASA is designed to find bottlenecks, issues with quality, waste and other processes which could affect the automation project.
The robot should fit the processes around it.
Selecting a robot is only one decision in engineering. The system might also require guarding, tools and controls, sensors conveyors, fixtures electrical integration, and communications with the existing production equipment. Engineers must consider reach and payload when determining how the robot will move about its space and interact with everything around it.
ASA offers concept development, system design and offline programming as part of its method of robotic automation. Digital simulation lets engineers test configurations and estimate durations of the cycle before the system can be put in operation in the factory of the customer’s. This is particularly beneficial when space is limited or new robotics must integrate with an established production line.
Paint and Dispensing demonstrates why Replicability is Essential
Controlled movement is especially important for certain manufacturing processes. Imagine covering hundreds of components. Not just completing components quickly is the goal. The motion, distance, speed, and application need be controlled starting from the beginning of the production line until the final.
ASA has specialists who work with dispensing applications and paint across various industries, such as aeronautics and automobile. Industrial robotic automation in these settings allows for reproducible movements while limiting exposure of workers to physically demanding procedures or ones that may be dangerous.
The elimination of waste and the increase of productivity can be accomplished through better control.
The System Needs people after the installation.
Automatism doesn’t replace manufacturing knowledge. It alters the knowledge required to manage and maintain the manufacturing process.
Employees must be able to operate equipment in a safe manner and recognize any abnormalities, troubleshoot faults, and take care of maintenance. Systems and procedures are able to be changed later if production requirements change.
ASA provides training on site in programming, safety troubleshooting, and mechanical and electrical maintenance. The company provides servicing and assistance for assessing the condition of equipment and addressing wear throughout the lifespan of the equipment.
Capacity is the capacity to work more quickly
For Australian manufacturers, increasing capacity doesn’t always mean purchasing an additional building or adding labor to repetitive processes. It is sometimes better to inquire about whether the production process could be redesigned.
ASA has been designing and integration of automation solutions since 2002. It supports the manufacturing industry in Australia as well as international projects. Its methodology combines analysis of needs with engineering, simulations FANUC robotic integration training, as well as maintenance.
The objective isn’t automation just for the sake of automation. An investment in a system should offer a manufacturer measurable outcomes, such as increased reliability of production, improved quality, safer methods with less waste, or a greater capacity.