A significant contract is won by an industrial manufacturer. The production requirements for the month increase but the company isn’t equipped with more space or employees who have experience or additional hours in the day. It is possible to add another shift in the short term, but it could be a source of new labor as well as training, supervision and quality control requirements.
Situations like this reveal the importance of robotic automation. Robotics does not only mean replacing human beings with machines. If it is used correctly, it can change how companies use the capacity they already have.
Image credit: automatedsolutions.com.au
Look at the time that passes between the products
Manufacturing inefficiency doesn’t have to be a major issue. Suppose an operator spends 15 seconds positioning a component for 10 seconds, then another 10 seconds applying materials, and then several seconds transferring it to the next operation. The difference might seem small for a single component. If repeated a thousand times the seconds could add significant production time.
The same applies to wasted material. Multiplying a small amount of additional coatings or dispensing material in a huge production line can lead to substantial costs.
Companies considering robotic automation Australia will gain by analyzing these tiny repeated losses prior to choose the equipment they will purchase. AAS’s Needs Analysis aims to identify bottlenecks as well problems with quality, waste and other process constraints which could affect an automation project.
The robot needs to be able to accommodate the system around it.
The choice of a robotics system is only one of the decisions in engineering. The system might also require tools, guarding control, sensors, conveyors, fixtures, electrical integration, and communication with the existing production equipment. Engineers must take into consideration the robot’s reach and payload, as well as how it will interact with its environment and move around.
ASA provides concept development, system design, CAD simulation, and offline programming as part of its approach to FANUC robotic automation. The digital simulation lets engineers explore configurations, estimate cycle times, and evaluate the system before it is functional on the floor of the customer’s facility. This is especially useful when space is limited or when new robotics need to be integrated with a production line that is already in place.
The importance of consistency in painting and dispensing
Certain manufacturing processes show the value of controlled movement especially well. Imagine coating hundreds or even thousands of parts. The desired result isn’t merely completing each component quickly. It is important to control the speed, distance, and movement of each part from the beginning to the at the very end.
ASA is a team of experts working on dispensing and paint applications across all industries, including automotive and aeronautics. In these environments industrial robotic automation is able to provide repeatable programmed movement and reduce exposure of employees to physically demanding and potentially hazardous processes.
A better control of the waste material can also help improve productivity by cutting down on the amount of waste material that is consumed.
The System Will Still Need people after the installation.
Automating doesn’t completely eliminate the requirement for manufacturing knowledge. The knowledge needed to manage, maintain, and manage the process are changing.
Employees must be taught to use equipment safely as well as to spot abnormal behavior and troubleshoot malfunctioning components and complete any necessary maintenance. Production requirements can also be changed, which means procedures and programs might require modification later.
ASA offers training on-site in safe operation, programming and troubleshooting, as well as electrical and mechanical maintenance. The company offers servicing as well as support for evaluating the condition of equipment, and dealing with wear and tear throughout the life of the system.
Capacity is more than just making work faster
In Australia, increasing capacity for production doesn’t always mean adding workers to repetitive tasks or purchasing larger structures. Sometimes, it is better to ask if the production process can be improved.
ASA has been developing and the integration of automation systems since 2002, assisting companies in Australia and projects around the world. Its method combines the analysis of requirements, engineering, simulations, FANUC robotic integration training, and also servicing.
Automating just for the sake of it isn’t the main goal. A system that’s worth its weight in gold should offer tangible benefits to an enterprise, including better production reliability, better quality manufacturing processes, and safer ones. It also means less waste.