A manufacturing company wins a big contract. The production requirement for each month increases but the company does not have enough space and has employees with previous experience or extra hours during the day. Although adding another shift may temporarily aid, it might be a source of new work or supervision, as well as additional training and demands for quality-control.
These kinds of situations reveal an important purpose of robotic automation. Robotics isn’t simply about replacing humans with a machine. When used in the right way it can alter how producers use the capacity they have.
Image credit: automatedsolutions.com.au
Check out the Seconds that Change Between Products
Inefficiency in manufacturing doesn’t need to be dramatic. Imagine a worker taking 15 seconds locating a component and then 10 seconds putting it into the material and then transfer it. On a single part, the difference is minimal. If repeated thousands of times, these seconds can turn into substantial production time.
Same goes for waste material. This is also true for waste material.
Businesses considering robotic automation Australia projects can benefit from examining these small frequent losses prior to making a decision on the equipment they require. The analysis provided by ASA is designed to uncover bottlenecks and quality issues, as in addition to waste and other constraints within a project.
The robot has to fit the system around it.
Making a choice on a robot is only one option in the engineering process. The system might also require guarding, tools and controls, sensors fixtures, conveyors electrical integration, as well as communication with existing production equipment. Engineers must take into consideration the payload and reach while making decisions about how the robot will move through its work area and interact with everything around it.
ASA provides concept development, system design, CAD simulation, and offline programming as part of its approach to FANUC robotic automation. Engineers can investigate system configurations and estimate cycle times before the finalized system is placed on the floor of the factory. It is particularly helpful when there is a small space available or when the new robotics needs to integrate with a production line.
Painting and Dispensing Show Why Repeatability Matters
Some manufacturing processes illustrate the importance of controlled movement particularly well. Imagine coating hundreds of components. It’s not just about completing the components quickly is the desired outcome. From the start of production to the end all the movements, speed, distance and application must be managed.
The experts at ASA are proficient in painting and dispensing across different industries like aerospace and automotive. In these areas, industrial robotic automation can ensure that the same program is repeated and reduce exposure of employees to physically demanding or hazardous processes.
A better control of waste material can also contribute to productivity improvements by increasing the quantity of material used.
Installation of the system isn’t enough. You will require people to take care of it.
Automation does not eliminate the requirement for expert manufacturing. Automation changes the skills needed to manage and control the manufacturing process.
Employees should be able to recognize unusual behavior and resolve problems, as well as perform the appropriate maintenance. Production requirements can change with time, which means that processes and programs will have to be modified.
ASA offers on-site training in programming, safe operation, troubleshooting, and electrical and mechanical maintenance. The company also provides servicing and ongoing support to monitor the condition of the equipment and deal with issues that may arise during the equipment’s operational lifespan.
Capacity Is About More Than Working Faster
For Australian producers, expanding capacity doesn’t necessarily mean purchasing larger buildings or adding workers to repetitive processes. Sometimes, the best question is whether the present production process can be engineered differently.
ASA is designing and integrated automation solutions since 2002. It supports manufacturers in Australia as well as international projects. Its approach combines needs analysis along with engineering simulation FANUC integration training, and service.
Automation for the sake of automation isn’t the main goal. A successful system must give an industry a tangible the form of more reliable production that is consistent in quality, more secure processes, lower waste or more capacity from the facility it operates.