A manufacturer gets the contract for a significant amount. The monthly production needs increase however the facility doesn’t have more space and has employees with previous experience or additional hours in the day. A temporary increase in production might be possible, but adding another shift can bring new demands for labor, training, supervision and quality control.
These circumstances reveal an crucial reason for robot automation. Robotics does not only replace people with machines. The right software can change the way that manufacturers use their production capacity.
Image credit: automatedsolutions.com.au
Look at 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 seconds locating a component, 10 seconds applying the material, and then a few seconds moving it. For a single component, the difference in time is not significant. When repeated thousands of times however the seconds could create significant production time.
This is also true of wasted material. A small amount of extra coating or dispensing material multiplied over a large-scale production run can become a meaningful expense.
Companies that are thinking about robotic automation Australia could benefit by analyzing these tiny routine losses before they choose the equipment they will purchase. ASA’s needs analysis is designed to identify bottlenecks, issues with quality, waste and other processes that may affect an automation project.
Robots must be able to be integrated into the process.
The choice of a robotics system is a single decision in engineering. The system will also require tools, guarding devices, controls fixtures, conveyors electrical integration, as well as communication with existing production equipment. Engineers should think about the range, payload, and how the robot is going to move and interact with its surroundings.
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 time-to-market before the system is operational in the factory of the customer’s. It is particularly helpful when there is a small amount of space, or when the new robotics is required to be integrated with a production line.
Dispensing and Paint Shows Why Replicability is Crucial
Some manufacturing processes demonstrate the importance of controlled movement particularly well. Imagine coating hundreds of parts. The end goal isn’t simply the process of completing every component in a short time. The distance, movement speed, and application have to remain controlled starting from the beginning of the production process until the time of its completion.
The ASA specialists are skilled in dispensing and painting across various industries including aerospace and automotive. In these industries industrial robotic automation may offer repeatable programming and reduce exposure of employees to physically demanding and potentially hazardous processes.
A better control of waste materials can also help improve productivity by decreasing the amount of unneeded material that is consumed.
Installing the system is not enough. Still, you need someone to keep it running.
Automatism isn’t a substitute for manufacturing knowledge. It transforms the knowledge needed to operate and maintain the manufacturing process.
Employees must be able to operate equipment in a safe manner be aware of abnormal behavior, troubleshoot faults, and perform appropriate maintenance. The needs for production may change in time, meaning that programs and processes will have to be modified.
ASA offers on-site training in safe operating, programming, and troubleshooting as well as maintenance for electrical and mechanical components. It also offers servicing and ongoing support to check the condition of the equipment and deal with issues that may arise during the equipment’s operational lifespan.
Capacity is more than Being able to work faster
A rise in capacity for Australian manufacturing companies doesn’t require the purchase of a larger building or adding more workers to repeat processes. Sometimes the better question is whether the present manufacturing process can be designed differently.
ASA has been designing and integrating automation solutions since 2002. It works with companies in Australia and international projects. The approach combines needs analysis with engineering, simulation, FANUC robot integration training, as well as servicing.
Automation isn’t the goal. A system that is effective should provide the manufacturer something tangible in yield, more stable production and quality, as well as safer processes, less waste, or a greater capacity in the factory that it currently operates.