A manufacturing company wins a big contract. While the requirements for monthly production have increased, the factory does not have an increase in area for floor or skilled workers. An increase in production for a short period might be possible, but adding another shift can bring new requirements for labor education, supervision, training and quality control.
Image credit: automatedsolutions.com.au
This scenario reveals the primary reason for robots. Robotics isn’t only about replacing people with the aid of a machine. It’s a tool that can change the way manufacturers utilize their production capacity.
Check out the Seconds that Aren’t able to be found between the products
Manufacturing inefficiency isn’t always dramatic. For instance, suppose an operator is spending 15 seconds positioning a component after which another 10 seconds are spent applying material, and then a few seconds moving it to the next step. With a single component the difference is minimal. These seconds add up when multiplied by thousands.
The waste material that is discarded is not different. A small amount of extra coating or dispensing materials across a large production run could result in a significant expense.
Companies that are thinking about robotic automation Australia can benefit from analyzing these small routine losses before they decide what equipment to purchase. ASA’s needs analysis is designed to pinpoint bottlenecks, issues with quality, waste as well as other limitations to process that can affect an automation project.
A Robot Has to Fit the Process Around It
A robot is one of the many engineering choices. It might be necessary to include tooling, guarding and controls sensors as well as conveyers, fixtures electronic integration, and communications with existing production equipment. Engineers should consider the payload and reach while making decisions about how the robot is going to move through its area of work and interact with the environment around it.
ASA offers conceptual development, design of systems and offline programming in its approach to robotic automation. The digital simulation lets engineers examine configurations, estimate cycle times, and evaluate the system prior to it becoming operational on the customer’s floor. This is particularly useful in cases of space limitations or if new robotics require to be integrated into existing production lines.
Paint and Dispensing demonstrates why Replicability is Critical.
Some manufacturing processes illustrate the benefits of controlled movement particularly well. Imagine coating hundreds, or thousands of parts. It’s not enough to finish each component quickly. It is crucial to manage the speed, distance and movement of each piece from beginning to very end.
ASA is a team of experts working with paint and dispensing application across various industries, such as aeronautics and automobile. In these environments, industrial robotic automation can provide repeatable programmed movement while also reducing employee exposure to physically demanding or potentially hazardous processes.
Reduced wasted materials and an increase of productivity can be accomplished through better management.
Even after the installation the system will still require individuals
Automation doesn’t eliminate the requirement for knowledge in manufacturing. Automation changes the skills needed for maintaining and operating the process.
Employees should be trained to safely use equipment as well as to spot abnormal behavior or malfunctioning components, and complete any necessary maintenance. Production requirements can change as time passes, which means that programs and processes will need to be adjusted.
ASA offers training on site in programming, safety troubleshooting, electrical and mechanical maintenance. They also provide servicing and support for checking the condition of equipment, and dealing with wear and tear throughout the life of the system.
Capacity is about more than just getting faster work done
For Australian manufacturers, increasing capacity doesn’t necessarily mean buying a larger building or continually adding labor to repetitive processes. Sometimes the better question is whether the existing production process can be engineered differently.
ASA has developed and integrated automation systems in Australia since 2002. We also support projects in other countries. Its approach combines analysis of needs and engineering, simulations, FANUC robotic integration training, and also servicing.
Automation isn’t the objective. A system that is worth its weight in gold should provide measurable benefits to a manufacturer, such as greater reliability, higher quality manufacturing processes, and safer ones. It also means less waste.