A significant contract is won by the manufacturer. Production requirements for the month are increased, but the manufacturing facility does not suddenly gain area for floor, skilled employees, or hours in the daytime. An increase in production for a short period may be possible, but the addition of a shift could introduce new requirements for labor training, supervision, and quality control.
Such situations highlight an important purpose of robotic automation. It’s not just about replacing human beings with machines. A good application could change the way manufacturers utilize their production capacity.
Image credit: automatedsolutions.com.au
Check out the Seconds that Aren’t able to be found between the products
Manufacturing inefficiency doesn’t have to be a major issue. Imagine an operator spending 15 seconds searching for a piece of equipment after which they spend 10 seconds putting the material, and then a few seconds moving it. On a single part, the difference in time is not significant. If repeated thousands of times, these seconds can turn into significant production time.
This is also true of wasted material. Multiplying a small amount of additional coating or dispensing materials across a large production run can result in substantial costs.
Companies considering robotic automation Australia projects can benefit from examining these small, repeated losses before deciding what equipment they need. The analysis provided by ASA is designed to reveal problems with quality and bottlenecks as also waste and other constraints in a project.
A Robot must be able to integrate the Process Around It
A robot’s selection is only one decision in engineering. It may be necessary to install tooling, protection and controls, sensors, conveyers, fixtures, electronic integration and communication with the existing production equipment. Engineers should consider the reach of the robot and its payload as well as how it interact with its surroundings and move around.
ASA provides concept development, system design and offline programming as part of its method of robotic automation. Engineers can explore system configurations and estimate cycles before the finalized system is placed on the floor of the factory. It’s particularly useful in situations where there is a restricted amount of space or the new robotics requires integration with a production line.
Paint and Dispensing Shows Why Replicability is Essential
Controlled movement is essential in certain manufacturing processes. Imagine coating hundreds of components. Making components faster is the ideal outcome. The movement, distance, speed, and application have be controlled from the start of the production run to the final.
ASA’s specialists are experienced in painting and dispensing across industries such as aerospace and automotive. In these settings, industrial robotic automation provides the ability to repeat, programmed, and controlled movements. It also reduces exposure of employees to physically challenging or potentially hazardous processes.
The reduction in waste and the improvement in productivity could be achieved through better management.
Even after installation it still needs individuals
Automation does not completely eliminate the requirement for expert manufacturing. The skills needed to operate, maintain, and operate the process shift.
Employees need to be able detect abnormal behavior and identify issues, and take the necessary maintenance. Production requirements can change with time, which means that procedures and protocols will need to be adapted.
ASA provides training on site that covers programming, safety troubleshooting, and electrical and mechanical maintenance. The company offers servicing as well as support for evaluating the condition of equipment and taking care to address wear throughout the lifespan of the equipment.
Capacity is more than just getting faster work done
An increase in capacity for Australian manufacturers does not necessarily mean buying a bigger building or adding more labor to routine processes. Sometimes, the best question is whether the current manufacturing process could be designed differently.
ASA has been developing and integrating automation solutions in Australia since 2002. We also assist with projects overseas. Its strategy combines analysis of needs along with engineering simulation FANUC integration, training and servicing.
Automating just for the sake of it isn’t the goal. A system worth investing in must provide the manufacturer with measurable outcomes, such as greater reliability in production, better quality, safer methods and reduced waste, or an increase in capacity.