A large contract is signed by an industrial manufacturer. The monthly production needs increase, but the factory doesn’t have more space and employees with experience or more hours to work during the day. A temporary increase in production might be possible, but adding another shift can introduce new requirements for labor training, supervision, and quality control.
These scenarios reveal an crucial reason for robot automation. Robotics does not only mean replacing human workers with machines. The right software can change the way manufacturers utilize their production capacity.
Image credit: automatedsolutions.com.au
Have a look at the minutes that vanish between the products
Inefficiency in manufacturing isn’t always so dramatic. An operator may spend 15 seconds positioning the component after which 10 seconds are spent applying materials, and a few seconds to move it to the next step. In the case of a single piece, the difference is minimal. Those seconds add up when multiplied by thousands.
It’s the same with scrap material. Similar is the case to waste materials.
Companies that are thinking about robotic automation Australia could benefit by analyzing these tiny routine losses before they decide on the best equipment to buy. ASA’s needs analysis is designed to pinpoint bottlenecks, inefficiencies, quality issues, and other processes that could influence an automation project.
A Robot has to fit the Process Around It
The choice of a robot is just one option in the engineering process. The system may also need tools, guarding control, sensors fixtures, conveyors electronic integration, and connectivity with existing production equipment. Engineers should think about the payload, reach and range as well as how the robot will operate and interact with the environment.
ASA provides concept development, system design, CAD simulation, and offline programming as part of its approach to FANUC robotic automation. Digital simulation lets engineers examine configurations and estimate the cycles before the system is operating at the customer’s factory floor. It’s especially useful when there is a limited space available or when the new robotics has to integrate with an existing production line.
Painting and Dispensing Show Why the importance of repeatability is evident.
Certain manufacturing processes demonstrate the importance of controlled movement. Imagine coating hundreds or thousands of parts. It’s not enough just to finish each part quickly. It is crucial to manage the speed, distance and movement of each component from beginning to final.
ASA’s specialists are experienced in painting and dispensing across industries such as automotive and aerospace. In these settings industrial robotic automation could allow for repeatable, programmed movements and reduce exposure of employees to physically demanding and potentially hazardous processes.
Controlled better can reduce the unnecessary use of materials, leading to a decrease in waste as well as productivity enhancements.
Installation of the system isn’t enough. It is still necessary to have people to manage it.
Automation doesn’t eliminate the requirement for knowledge in manufacturing. The abilities required to operate, maintain, and run the process change.
The employees must know how to operate equipment safely be aware of abnormal behavior to identify faults, fix them, and take care of maintenance. The demands for production can shift as time passes, which means that programs and processes will require adjusting.
ASA provides training on site in safe operation, programming and troubleshooting, as well as electrical and mechanical maintenance. The company offers servicing and assistance for assessing equipment condition, and addressing wear throughout the lifetime of the system.
Capacity means more than just getting faster work done
For Australian manufacturers, increasing capacity doesn’t necessarily mean purchasing larger buildings or increasing the amount of labor required to perform repetitive tasks. The more important question to consider is whether the present manufacturing process could be improved.
ASA has created and integrated automation systems in Australia since 2002. We also provide support for projects in other countries. The approach is a combination of needs analysis as well as engineering simulation. FANUC integration, training and servicing.
Automation for the sake of automation isn’t the goal. A system that’s worth its weight in gold ought to be able to provide tangible benefits for the manufacturer, like greater reliability, higher quality process, more secure processes and less waste.