A manufacturer is awarded a large contract. The monthly production needs increase however, the plant has no room and has employees with previous experience or extra hours during the daytime. A second shift may help in the short term, but it could be a source of new labor and training, supervision, and quality-control requirements.
Image credit: automatedsolutions.com.au
These kinds of situations reveal the importance of robotic automation. Robotics is not just replacing humans with machines. It is able to change the way manufacturers utilize their current production capacity.
Take a look at the seconds that Change Between Products
Manufacturing inefficiency doesn’t have to be evident. Suppose an operator spends 15 seconds arranging a part and then 10 seconds putting it in material, and several more seconds transferring it onto the next task. On one component the difference appears to be insignificant. Those seconds add up when multiplied by thousands.
The same applies to wasted material. Multiplying a small amount of additional coatings or dispensing material across a large production run could lead to substantial costs.
Companies looking into robot automation Australia projects could benefit from looking at these small regular losses prior to choosing the right equipment. ASA’s needs analysis is intended to identify bottlenecks, quality issues, waste, and other processes that may affect an automation project.
A Robot has to fit the Process Around It
The choice of a robot is only one of the decisions in engineering. The system could also require tools, guarding and controls, sensors fixtures, conveyors, electronic integration, and connectivity with existing production equipment. Engineers must consider reach, payload and how the robot will be able to move and interact within its environment.
ASA provides concepts development, design, CAD simulation and offline programming as an element of its approach to FANUC robotic automation. The digital simulation lets engineers to explore the possibilities of configurations, estimate cycle times, and to test the system before it becomes functional on the floor of the customer’s facility. This is particularly helpful when space is limited or when new robotics have to be integrated into existing production lines.
Painting and Dispensing demonstrates why It’s Important to Repeat
Certain manufacturing processes highlight the value of controlled movement particularly well. Imagine coating hundreds, or thousands of components. Not just completing components quickly is what you want to achieve. The movement, distance, speed, and application have to remain controlled starting from the beginning of the production run to the time of its completion.
ASA is a specialist in painting and dispensing applications across a variety of industries, including automotive and aerospace. In these environments, industrial robotic automation can provide repeatable programmed movement while also reducing employee exposure to physically demanding or potentially hazardous processes.
A better management of waste materials can also help improve productivity by cutting down on the amount of waste material that is consumed.
The installation of the system isn’t enough. Still, you need someone to keep it running.
Automation does not completely eliminate the need for manufacturing expertise. The abilities required to operate, maintain and operate the process shift.
The employees must know how to safely operate equipment, recognize abnormal behavior as well as troubleshoot issues and perform appropriate maintenance. Programs and processes can be changed later in the event that production requirements change.
ASA offers on-site training in programming, safe operation, troubleshooting, as well as mechanical and electrical maintenance. The company also provides regular maintenance and repairs to ensure that equipment is in top order and wear and tear issues are taken care of.
Capacity goes beyond just getting faster work done
For Australian producers, expanding capacity doesn’t always mean purchasing a larger building or continually increasing the amount of labor required to perform repetitive tasks. It is sometimes better to ask if the production process can be modified.
ASA has been creating and the integration of automation solutions since 2002. It provides support to companies in Australia, as well as international projects. Its approach connects needs analysis Engineering, simulation, FANUC robot integration Training, and servicing.
Automation for the sake of automation isn’t the goal. A good system will give a manufacturer something measurable in the form of more reliable production that is consistent in quality, more secure processes, less waste, or a greater capacity in the factory it already operates.
