A big contract is won by an industrial manufacturer. The production requirement for each month increases, but the factory has no room and employees with experience or extra hours during the day. While adding another shift may temporarily help, it could also bring new labor, supervision, training and demands for quality-control.
This is a crucial need for robotic automation. It’s not just about replacing human beings with machines. When used in the right way it can transform the way manufacturers use the production capacity they already have.
Image credit: automatedsolutions.com.au
Take a look at the time intervals between products
Manufacturing inefficiency doesn’t have to be evident. If an operator takes 15 minutes putting a piece of equipment in place after which another 10 seconds are spent applying materials, and then several minutes transferring it onto the next task. On one aspect it’s not much of a difference. If repeated a thousand times the seconds could increase production by a significant amount.
The same applies to wasted material. This is also true for waste material.
The businesses that are looking into robotic automation Australia will benefit from studying these small loss, repeated ones before they decide which equipment to buy. The analysis conducted by ASA’s Needs Analysis is designed to find bottlenecks, quality issues, waste, and other constraints to the process which could affect the automation project.
The robot should fit the system around it.
A robot is only one of many engineering choices. It could be necessary to install tooling, protection and controls sensors conveyors, fixtures, electrical integration, and communication with existing production equipment. Engineers should think about the range, payload, and how the robot will operate and interact with the surrounding.
ASA provides concept development, system design, CAD simulation, and offline programming as part of its approach to FANUC robotic automation. Engineers are able to explore configurations for the system and estimate cycle times before the finalized system is placed on the floor of the factory. It’s particularly useful when there is a small amount of space, or when the new robotics is required to be integrated with a production line.
Painting and dispensing show why Repetability is Important
Certain manufacturing processes show the importance of controlled movement. Imagine applying a protective coating to hundreds of parts. It’s not enough just to complete each piece quickly. From the beginning of production through the conclusion all the movements, speed of the machine, the distance and the application have to be managed.
The experts at ASA are proficient in painting and dispensing across different industries like aerospace and automotive. In these industries, industrial robotic automation allows for repeatable, programmed movements and decreases the risk of exposure for employees to potentially hazardous processes.
Reduced waste and the increase in productivity can be achieved through better management.
The System Will Still Need People Even After Installation
Automation doesn’t eliminate the need for skilled manufacturing. It alters the knowledge required to manage and maintain the manufacturing process.
Employees need to know how to safely operate equipment and recognize any abnormalities to identify faults, fix them, and carry out the correct maintenance. Systems and procedures can be adjusted later if production requirements change.
ASA offers training on site in programming, safety troubleshooting, and mechanical and electric maintenance. It also offers servicing and ongoing support to check the condition of the equipment and deal with wear and tear over the course of its operating life.
Capacity is about more than simply working faster
In Australia, increasing production capacity is not always about the addition of workers to repetitive tasks or buying bigger structures. The best question to ask is whether the existing manufacturing process can be improved.
ASA has been working on and integration of automation systems since 2002, supporting companies in Australia as well as projects across the globe. Its approach combines analysis of needs as well as engineering, simulations FANUC robotic integration training, and even servicing.
The goal isn’t to automate to achieve its own goals. A system worth the gold it’s worth ought to bring tangible benefits to an enterprise, including more reliable production, better quality manufacturing processes, and safer ones. It also means less waste.
