A company is awarded a significant contract. Its monthly production needs are increased, but the manufacturing facility does not suddenly gain floors, employees with experience or working hours during the day. It is possible to add another shift in the short term, but it could also introduce new labor as well as training, supervision and quality-control regulations.
Image credit: automatedsolutions.com.au
Situations like this reveal an important purpose of robotic automation. Robotics does not only replace people with machines. If used properly it can alter how manufacturers use the production capacity they have.
Examine the Seconds That Aren’t able to be found between the products
Inefficiency in manufacturing isn’t always so evident. Imagine a worker spending 15 minutes searching for a part for 10 seconds, then applying the material, then several seconds transferring it. On a single part, it’s a small difference. When repeated thousands of times these seconds can add significant production time.
The same applies to wasted material. Same goes of waste materials.
Businesses considering robot automation Australia projects may gain from examining these minor, repeated losses before choosing the right equipment. AAS’s Needs Analysis aims to pinpoint bottlenecks, as well waste, quality issues and other limitations to process that can affect the automation project.
The robot should fit the processes around it.
Robots are just one of many engineering choices. The system may also need guarding, tooling, controls, sensors conveyors, fixtures electrical integration, and communications with the existing production equipment. Engineers need to consider the reach of the robot and its payload, as well as how it will interact with its environment and move around.
ASA offers conceptual development, design of systems and offline programming as part of its method of robotic automation. Digital simulation lets engineers investigate configurations and estimate cycle times before the completed system is operational at the customer’s factory floor. It’s especially useful when there’s a finite area or new robotics has to integrate with an existing production line.
Painting and Dispensing Show Why It’s Important to Repeat
Controlled movement is essential for certain manufacturing processes. Imagine applying a coating on hundreds of parts. The final result doesn’t come from complete each component at a rapid pace. The movement, distance, speed, and application need be managed from the beginning of the production process until the final.
ASA’s specialists are experienced in painting and dispensing across industries such as automotive and aerospace. In these settings, industrial robotic automation can provide repeatable programmed movement and reduce exposure of employees to physically demanding or dangerous processes.
An improved control over waste materials can also increase productivity by decreasing the amount of unneeded materials used.
The System Needs Personnel After Installation
Automation is not a complete solution to the need for skilled manufacturing. The capabilities required to operate, maintain and operate the process shift.
Employees need to know how to operate equipment safely and recognize any abnormalities, troubleshoot faults, and carry out the correct maintenance. Production requirements can alter, which means that procedures and programs might require modifications later.
ASA offers training on site that covers programming, safe operation, troubleshooting, as well as mechanical and electrical maintenance. The company provides servicing and support to check the condition of equipment and addressing wear throughout the system’s lifetime.
Capacity Is About More Than Working Faster
An increase in capacity for Australian manufacturers does not necessarily involve buying a bigger facility or adding more labor on repetitive processes. It is sometimes better to inquire about whether the production process can be improved.
ASA has been developing and integrating automation systems in Australia since 2002. We also help with projects across the world. Its strategy combines analysis of needs as well as engineering simulation. FANUC integration training, and service.
The goal isn’t to automate for the sake of it. A system worthy of its weight in gold should be able to provide tangible benefits for manufacturers, for example greater reliability, higher quality process, more secure processes and less waste.