A manufacturing company wins a big contract. The production requirements for the month increase but the company does not have enough space and has employees with previous experience or extra hours during the day. While adding a second shift could temporarily boost production, it could also create new jobs, supervision, training and demands for quality-control.
This situation highlights a major purpose for robotic automation. Robotics does not only replace people with machines. It is able to modify the methods that manufacturers employ to use their existing production capacity.
Image credit: automatedsolutions.com.au
You can check out the time difference between products
Manufacturing inefficiency isn’t always dramatic. Imagine a person spending 15 seconds looking for a particular component for 10 seconds, then applying the material and several seconds to transfer it. The difference might seem small for a single component. It’s a lot when multiplied by thousands.
Wasted material is no different. The same is true for waste material.
Companies considering robotic automation Australia projects can benefit from examining these small, repeated losses before deciding what equipment they need. ASA’s analysis of needs is designed to pinpoint problems with quality and bottlenecks as well as the waste that can be a problem during a project.
Robots must be able to fit into the process.
Robots are just one of many engineering options. The system could also require tooling, guarding devices, controls, conveyors, fixtures, electronic integration, and connectivity with existing production equipment. Engineers must consider the reach of the robot and its payload, as well as how it will interact with its environment and move about.
The ASA approach to FANUC robot automation is based on concept development and system design including CAD Simulation, offline programming. Engineers can investigate system configurations and estimate cycle times before the finished system is installed on the floor of the factory. It’s especially useful when there is a small area or new robotics requires integration with the production line.
Painting and Dispensing demonstrate why Repeatability Matters
Some manufacturing processes demonstrate the value of controlled movement especially well. Imagine covering hundreds of components. The ability to finish components in a short time is the goal. It is important to control the speed, distance, and movement of each piece from the beginning until the final.
ASA has experts who deal with dispensing applications and paint across industries, including automotive and aeronautics. In these industries, industrial robotic automation allows for predictable, controlled movements. It also reduces exposure of employees to potentially hazardous processes.
Reduced waste and the improvement in productivity can be achieved by better control.
Installing the system is not enough. You will require people to manage it.
Automation doesn’t eliminate the need for expertise in manufacturing. It requires new skills to run and maintain the process.
Employees must be taught to safely use equipment as well as to spot abnormal behavior or malfunctioning components, and complete any necessary maintenance. Production requirements can also alter, indicating that procedures and programs might require modifications later.
ASA offers on-site training in safe operation, programming troubleshooting, as well as mechanical and electrical maintenance. The company offers servicing and support to check the condition of equipment, and dealing with wear and tear throughout the life of the system.
Capacity refers to more than Being able to work faster
A rise in capacity for Australian manufacturers doesn’t always require the purchase of a larger building or adding more workers to routine processes. Sometimes, the best question is whether the existing manufacturing process could be designed differently.
ASA has been designing and integration of automation solutions since 2002. It provides support to manufacturers in Australia as well as international projects. The approach is a combination of needs analysis and engineering simulation with FANUC integration training, and service.
The goal isn’t to automate to achieve its own goals. An investment in a system should offer a manufacturer measurable results, which include greater reliability in production, better quality, more secure procedures as well as reduced waste or a higher capacity.