A major contract is won by a manufacturer. Although the monthly production requirements have increased, the facility isn’t suddenly equipped with more area for floor or skilled workers. While adding another shift may temporarily help, it could be the cause of additional labor, supervision, training and requirements for quality control.
Image credit: automatedsolutions.com.au
This scenario reveals the primary reason for robots. Robotics isn’t only about replacing human beings with machines. It’s a tool that can alter the method by which manufacturers use their existing capacity for production.
Check out the seconds between the products
Manufacturing inefficiency doesn’t have to be noticeable. An operator may spend 15 seconds positioning the component, then 10 seconds applying materials, then a few seconds more to move it to the next step. In the case of a single piece, it’s a small difference. 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 can result in an expense that is significant.
Companies looking into robot automation Australia projects may benefit from looking at these small regular losses prior to deciding on the equipment they will require. The analysis provided by ASA is designed to identify bottlenecks and quality issues, as also any other limitations during a project.
A Robot has to fit the Process Itself
The selection of a robot is only one of the decisions in engineering. It is possible to incorporate tooling, security and controls, sensors, conveyers, fixtures, electronic integration, and communications with the current production equipment. Engineers must take into consideration the reach of the robot and its payload as well as how it interact with its surroundings and how it will move.
ASA offers concepts development, design, CAD simulation and offline programming as part of its plan to FANUC’s robotic automation. Digital simulation allows engineers to examine configurations and estimate the durations of the cycle before the system is put into operation on the customer’s factory floor. This is particularly useful in cases of space limitations or if new robotics require to be integrated into the existing lines of production.
Paint and Dispensing Shows Why Replicability is Critical.
The ability to control movement is particularly important in some manufacturing processes. Imagine applying a coating to hundreds of components. Making components faster is what you want to achieve. From the moment of starting production to the end moving, speed of the machine, the distance and the application have to be managed.
ASA has specialists who work on painting and dispensing applications across various 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.
Better control of waste material can also increase productivity by reducing the amount of unnecessary material used.
The System Will Still Need Personnel After Installation
Automation is not a complete solution to the need for skilled manufacturing. The abilities required to operate, maintain, and operate the process shift.
Employees must be able to recognize abnormal behavior and troubleshoot problems, as well as take the necessary maintenance. Production requirements may also change, meaning procedures and programs might require adjustments later on.
ASA offers on-site training in safe operation, programming troubleshooting, as well as mechanical and electrical maintenance. The company offers servicing as well as support for evaluating the condition of equipment and taking care to address wear throughout the system’s lifetime.
Capacity is more than Being able to work faster
For Australian manufacturers, increasing capacity doesn’t necessarily mean purchasing a larger building or continually adding workers to repetitive processes. Sometimes, the best question is whether the current production process can be engineered differently.
ASA has been creating and integrating automation systems since 2002, supporting companies in Australia and also projects across the globe. Its approach combines needs analysis along with engineering simulation FANUC integration as well as training and maintenance.
The goal isn’t to automate to achieve its own goals. A system that is worthy of its weight in gold will be able to provide tangible benefits for a manufacturer, such as higher reliability in production, improved quality methods, less risky processes, and less waste.