A significant contract is won by a manufacturer. While the requirements for monthly production have increased, the factory does not have an increase in area for floor or skilled workers. A temporary increase in production is possible, but an additional shift may bring new demands for labor education, supervision, training and quality control.
Image credit: automatedsolutions.com.au
Situations like this reveal an important purpose of robotic automation. Robotics doesn’t just mean replacing human workers with machines. A suitable application can alter the way in which manufacturers make use of their capacity to produce.
Look at the Seconds That Disappear Between Products
Manufacturing inefficiency doesn’t have to be a major issue. Imagine a worker spending 15 minutes searching for a part after which they spend 10 seconds putting the material, then several seconds transferring it. In the case of a single piece, the difference is minimal. The seconds add up when multiplied by thousands.
The waste material that is discarded is not different. A small amount of extra coating or dispensing material multiplied across a high-volume production run can become a meaningful expense.
Before making a decision on the equipment they will require, companies looking at robotic automation Australia can benefit by analyzing these tiny losses. ASA’s needs analysis is intended to find bottlenecks, quality issues, waste, and other processes which could affect the automation project.
A Robot must be able to integrate the Process Around It
A robot is one of many engineering options. The system might also require guarding, tooling devices, controls fixtures, conveyors, electronic integration, and connectivity with the existing production equipment. Engineers must consider the robot’s reach and payload as well as how it interact with its surroundings and move around.
ASA provides conceptual development, system design, CAD simulation and offline programming as part of its strategy to FANUC’s robotic automation. The digital simulation allows engineers to analyze configurations, estimate cycles times, and to test the system prior to it becoming operational on the customer’s floor. It’s especially useful when there is a limited amount of space or the new robotics needs to integrate with an existing production line.
Painting and Dispensing demonstrate why It’s Important to Repeat
Certain manufacturing processes show the value of controlled movement particularly well. Imagine coating hundreds, or thousands of components. It’s not enough to finish each part in a short time. It’s important to control the speed, distance, and movement of each part from beginning to very end.
The experts at ASA are proficient in painting and dispensing across industries such as aerospace and automotive. In these industries, industrial robotic automation can provide the ability to repeat, programmed, and controlled movements. It also decreases the risk of exposure for employees to physically challenging or potentially hazardous processes.
Controlled better can reduce the unnecessary use of materials, leading to a reduction in waste and productivity gains.
Even after the installation it still needs individuals
Automation doesn’t substitute for manufacturing expertise. It alters the knowledge required to operate and maintain the manufacturing process.
Employees must be able to detect abnormal behavior and identify issues, and carry out the correct maintenance. Processes and programs can be changed later in the event that production requirements alter.
ASA provides training on site in safe operation, programming, troubleshooting as well as maintenance of electrical and mechanical systems. They also provide servicing as well as support for evaluating the condition of equipment, and dealing with wear throughout the system’s lifetime.
Capacity refers to more than Working Faster
The expansion of capacity for Australian manufacturers doesn’t always involve buying a bigger facility or adding more employees to repeat processes. Sometimes, it is better to ask if the production procedure could be altered.
ASA has developed and integrated automation solutions in Australia since 2002. We also assist with projects across the world. The company’s strategy combines analysis of needs, engineering, simulation, FANUC robot integration training, as well as servicing.
Automating just for the sake of it isn’t a goal. A system worth investing in should offer a manufacturer measurable outcomes, such as better production reliability, higher quality, safer procedures as well as reduced waste or a higher capacity.