A company is awarded a large contract. While the requirements for monthly production have risen, the manufacturing facility does not suddenly have more flooring or experienced workers. While adding another shift may temporarily improve the situation, it may also create new jobs as well as training, supervision, and the need for quality control.
Image credit: automatedsolutions.com.au
These examples show an important reason for robotic automation. Robotics isn’t only about replacing human beings with machines. It can be used to modify the methods that manufacturers employ to use their production capacity.
Look at the time that passes between the products
Inefficiency in manufacturing isn’t always so noticeable. For instance, suppose an operator is spending 15 seconds arranging the component and then 10 seconds putting it in material, and then a few seconds moving it to the next process. The difference may seem insignificant for one component. Repeated thousands of times, but those seconds turn into substantial production time.
This is also true of wasted material. A tiny amount of leftover coating or dispensing material that is multiplied over a large-scale production run could be a substantial expense.
Before making a decision on the equipment they need, businesses considering robotic automation Australia can gain from analysing the small loss. The analysis by ASA’s experts is designed to identify problems with quality and bottlenecks, as in addition to the waste that can be a problem in a project.
A Robot must be able to integrate the Process Itself
The decision to choose a robot is just one aspect of engineering. The system could also require guarding, tools devices, controls conveyors, fixtures electrical integration, as well as communication with the existing production equipment. Engineers should think about the range, payload, and how the robot is going to move and interact in the environment.
ASA provides conceptual development, system design, CAD simulation, and offline programming as part of its approach to FANUC robotic automation. Engineers are able to explore configurations for the system and estimate cycle times before the finished system is installed on the floor of the factory. This is especially useful when space is scarce or if new robotics are required to integrate with an established production line.
Painting and Dispensing Show Why Repetability is Important
Certain manufacturing processes highlight the importance of controlled movements. Imagine applying a protective coating to hundreds of parts. It’s not just about completing the components quickly is the desired outcome. From the moment of starting production through the conclusion all the movements, speed of the machine, the distance and the application have to be managed.
The ASA specialists are skilled in dispensing and painting across various industries such as aerospace and automotive. In these environments, industrial robotic automation can provide repeatable programmed movement while also reducing employee exposure to physically demanding or potentially hazardous processes.
The elimination of waste and improvement of productivity can be accomplished by better control.
Installation of the system isn’t enough. It is still necessary to have people to manage it.
Automation doesn’t eliminate the need for expertise in manufacturing. It requires new skills to manage and maintain the manufacturing process.
Employees should be trained to operate equipment in a safe manner, identify abnormal behavior and troubleshoot malfunctioning components and take care of any maintenance that is required. Production requirements can alter, which means that programs and processes may need adjustment later.
ASA offers on-site training in safe operation, programming, troubleshooting, as well as electrical and mechanical maintenance. The company also provides servicing as well as ongoing support to evaluate equipment condition and address wear over the system’s operating life.
Capacity Is About More Than Working Faster
For Australian manufacturers, increasing capacity doesn’t mean purchasing larger buildings or increasing the amount of labor required to perform repetitive tasks. Sometimes the better question is whether the present manufacturing process could be designed differently.
ASA has developed and integrated automation systems in Australia since 2002. We also provide support for projects across the world. Its approach connects needs analysis, engineering, simulation, FANUC robot integration, training, and servicing.
Automation isn’t the goal. A good system will give a manufacturer something measurable in yield, more stable production that is consistent in quality, more secure methods, less waste or more capacity from the factory it already operates.