A manufacturing company gets a large contract. While the demands for production have grown, the plant doesn’t suddenly have more area for floor or skilled workers. An increase in production for a short period may be possible, but an additional shift may bring new requirements for labor as well as training, supervision, and quality control.
Such situations highlight the importance of robotic automation. It’s not just about replacing a person with machines. If used properly, it can change how manufacturers make use of the resources they have.
Image credit: automatedsolutions.com.au
You can check out the time difference between products
Manufacturing inefficiency doesn’t need to be a major issue. For instance, suppose an operator is spending 15 seconds arranging a part, another 10 seconds applying material, and then a few minutes transferring it onto the next task. On one aspect it’s not much of a difference. When repeated thousands of times however the seconds could result in significant production delays.
It’s the same with scrap material. A small amount of extra coating or dispensing materials across a large production line can lead to substantial costs.
Companies considering robotic automation Australia projects can benefit from examining these small, repeated losses before deciding what equipment they need. The analysis of needs by ASA aims to uncover bottlenecks as well problems with quality, waste and other processes that could impact an automation project.
The robot needs to be able to accommodate the procedure around it.
A robot is only one of many engineering choices. Tools, guardings, controls sensors, conveyors and fixtures might also be needed. Engineers should think about reach, payload and how the robot is going to move and interact in its environment.
ASA provides concept development, system design and offline programming in its method of robotic automation. Digital simulation allows engineers to examine configurations and estimate the cycle times before the completed system is put into operation at the customer’s factory floor. It is particularly helpful in situations where there is a restricted space available or when the new robotics has to integrate with an existing production line.
The importance of consistency in painting and dispensing
Certain manufacturing processes highlight the benefits of controlled movement particularly well. Imagine applying a coating on hundreds of components. It’s not just about completing the components quickly is what you want to achieve. The distance, movement, speed, and application need to remain controlled at the beginning of the production line until the end.
ASA is a specialist in painting and dispensing applications across industries including automotive and aerospace. In these industries industrial robotic automation could provide repeatable programmed movement as well as limiting exposure for employees to physically demanding and potentially hazardous processes.
Better control may also reduce the unnecessary use of materials, leading to lower waste alongside productivity improvement.
Installing the system is not enough. It is still necessary to have people to keep it running.
Automation does not eliminate the need for expertise in manufacturing. The abilities needed to manage, maintain, and control the process evolve.
Employees must be instructed to use equipment safely and to recognize abnormal behavior, troubleshoot faulty components, and take care of any maintenance that is required. The production requirements can also change, meaning the processes and programs could require modifications later.
ASA provides on-site training covering safe operation, programming troubleshooting, as well as mechanical and electrical maintenance. The company offers servicing and support for checking the condition of equipment and taking care to address wear and tear throughout the life of the system.
Capacity Is About More Than working faster
A rise in capacity for Australian manufacturers doesn’t always mean buying a bigger building or adding more labor to routine processes. The better question to ask is whether the present manufacturing process could be improved.
ASA has been creating and integrated automation systems since 2002, and has been supporting manufacturers in Australia and also projects internationally. Its approach connects needs analysis Engineering, simulation, FANUC robot integration Training, and servicing.
Automation is not the goal. Any system that is worth investing in will provide a manufacturer with tangible results, like better production reliability, higher quality, more secure procedures with less waste, or a greater capacity.