A big contract is won by a manufacturer. The monthly production requirement increases, but the factory has no room or employees who have experience or additional hours in the daytime. An increase in production for a short period is possible, but adding another shift can introduce new demands for labor training, supervision, and quality control.
These kinds of situations reveal the importance of robotic automation. Robotics is not just replacing humans with machines. A good application could change the way manufacturers utilize their production capacity.
Image credit: automatedsolutions.com.au
Take a look at the seconds that disappear between products
Manufacturing inefficiency doesn’t need to be dramatic. An operator could spend 15 minutes positioning the item after which 10 seconds are spent applying materials, and then a couple of seconds moving it to the next step. On a single part, the difference is minimal. Repeated thousands of times, the seconds are significant production time.
The same is true for wasted material. A small amount of excess coating or dispensing material multiplied throughout a production run that is high-volume could be a substantial expense.
Before selecting the equipment they require, businesses looking into robotic automation Australia could benefit from analyzing these tiny losses. ASA’s needs analysis aims to pinpoint bottlenecks, as well the quality of work, waste and other limitations to process that might affect an automation plan.
The robot needs to be able to accommodate the system around it.
Selecting a robot is only one decision in engineering. Guardings, tools, controls as well as conveyors, sensors and fixtures might also be necessary. Engineers must take into consideration the payload and reach while determining how the robot is going to move through its work area and interact with everything surrounding it.
ASA provides concept development, system design, CAD simulation, and offline programming as part of its approach to FANUC robotic automation. The digital simulation lets engineers examine configurations, estimate cycle time and allow them to test the system before it becomes operating on the floor of a customer’s premises. It’s particularly useful in situations where there is a restricted amount of space, or when the new robotics needs to integrate with the production line.
Dispensing and painting demonstrate why Replicability is Important
Certain manufacturing processes show the benefits of controlled movement particularly well. Imagine covering hundreds of components. The end goal isn’t simply finishing each part quickly. From the time of beginning production all the way to the finish moving, speed and distance must be managed.
Our specialists have experience painting and dispensing across industries such as automotive and aerospace. In these settings, industrial robotic automation allows for repeatable, programmed movements and decreases the risk of exposure for employees to potentially dangerous processes.
Controlled better can reduce excessive material consumption, thereby contributing to a decrease in waste as well as productivity enhancements.
Even after the installation it still needs users
Automation doesn’t remove the requirement for manufacturing knowledge. It alters the knowledge required to operate and maintain the manufacturing process.
Employees should be able to spot abnormal behavior and solve problems, as well as do the proper maintenance. Production requirements can also alter, indicating that processes and programs may require modification later.
ASA provides on-site training covering programming, safe operation, troubleshooting, and mechanical and electrical maintenance. The company provides continuous maintenance and services to ensure that the equipment is in good order and wear and tear issues are taken care of.
Capacity is more than working faster
For Australian manufacturers, increasing capacity doesn’t always mean purchasing larger buildings or adding more workers to repetitive processes. Sometimes the better question is whether the present production process can be engineered differently.
ASA has created and integrated automation systems in Australia since 2002. We also help with projects abroad. The company’s strategy combines analysis of needs, engineering, simulation, FANUC robot integration, training, and servicing.
Automation is not for its own sake. A system that is effective should provide the manufacturer something tangible in the form of more reliable production with consistent quality, safe processes, lower waste or more capacity from the existing factory.
