A company is awarded an enormous contract. The monthly production needs increase however the facility doesn’t have more space and has employees with previous experience or more hours to work during the daytime. While adding another shift may temporarily boost production, it could also create new jobs, supervision, training and quality-control needs.
These examples show an important reason for robotic automation. Robotics doesn’t just mean replacing a person with an automated machine. If it is used correctly it can transform the way manufacturers make use of the resources they have.
Image credit: automatedsolutions.com.au
Take a look at the seconds that Aren’t able to be found between the products
Inefficient manufacturing isn’t always evident. A worker may take 15 seconds positioning the component before implementing 10 seconds of materials, and a few seconds to move it onto the next stage. For a single component, the difference is insignificant. Those seconds add up when multiplied by thousands.
Same goes for waste material. Multiplying a small amount of additional coating or dispensing materials over a long 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. AAS’s Needs Analysis aims to find bottlenecks and waste, quality issues and other process constraints which might affect an automation plan.
Robots need to be able integrate into the process.
Selecting a robot is only one option in the engineering process. Guardings, tools, controls sensors, conveyors and fixtures might also be necessary. Engineers must take into consideration the reach and payload of the robot while determining how the robot is going to move through its area of work and interact with everything around it.
The FANUC approach of ASA’s approach to robot automation includes the development of concepts and systems along with CAD Simulation and offline Programming. Digital simulation allows engineers to examine configurations and estimate the cycle times before the completed system is operational on the customer’s factory floor. This is especially useful in cases of space limitations or if new robotics require to be incorporated into the existing lines of production.
It is crucial to have repeatability in painting and dispensing
Controlled movement is especially important in some manufacturing processes. Imagine covering hundreds of components. The final result doesn’t come from complete each component at a rapid pace. From the time of beginning production through the conclusion moving, speed, distance and application must be controlled.
ASA has specialists working with paint and dispensing processes across various industries, including automotive and aerospace. In these settings industrial robotic automation could offer repeatable programming while also reducing employee exposure to physically demanding or hazardous processes.
The reduction in waste and improvement in productivity is possible by better control.
The System Will Still Need People Even After Installation
Automation does not completely eliminate the need for skilled manufacturing. Automation can alter the capabilities needed to maintain and operate the process.
Employees must be able to detect abnormal behavior and identify problems, as well as take the necessary maintenance. Production requirements can alter, indicating that procedures and programs might require adjustment later.
ASA offers training on-site in safe operating, programming, and troubleshooting. It also offers electrical and mechanical maintenance. They also provide servicing as well as support for evaluating the condition of equipment and addressing wear throughout the lifespan of the equipment.
Capacity is about more than just getting faster work done
For Australian producers, expanding capacity doesn’t necessarily mean purchasing a larger building or continually increasing the amount of labor required to perform repetitive tasks. Sometimes, the most important thing to consider is whether or not the existing manufacturing process can be designed differently.
ASA has been developing and the integration of automation solutions since 2002. It supports the manufacturing industry in Australia and international projects. Its approach connects needs analysis and engineering with simulation FANUC robot integration Training, and servicing.
Automating just for the sake of it isn’t the objective. A system that is effective should provide a manufacturer something measurable in the form of more reliable production and quality, as well as safer processes, less waste, or a larger capacity for the factory that it currently operates.