A significant contract is won by an industrial manufacturer. The monthly production requirement increases, but the factory has no room, employees with experience, or more hours to work during the daytime. A temporary increase in production could be possible, however adding another shift can bring new requirements for labor training, supervision, and quality control.
These circumstances reveal an important motive for the use of robotic automation. It’s not just about replacing humans with machines. The right software can change the way in which manufacturers make use of their capacity to produce.
Image credit: automatedsolutions.com.au
Look at the Seconds That disappear between products
Inefficient manufacturing is not always apparent. Imagine a worker taking 15 seconds looking for a particular component and then 10 seconds putting it into the material and several seconds to transfer it. The time difference could seem minor for a single part. It’s a lot when multiplied by thousands.
Same goes for waste material. A tiny amount of surplus coating or dispensing material that is multiplied across a high-volume production run could be a substantial expense.
The companies that are considering robotic automation Australia will gain by analyzing these tiny repeated losses prior to decide on the best equipment to buy. ASA’s needs analysis is intended to pinpoint bottlenecks, problems with quality, waste and other process constraints that could influence an automation project.
The robot must fit the procedure around it.
The decision to choose a robot is a single decision in engineering. It might be necessary to install tooling, protection and controls sensors, conveyers, fixtures, electrical integration, and communication with the current production equipment. Engineers must consider the reach of the robot and its payload as well as how it interacts with its environment and how it will move.
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 to explore the possibilities of configurations, estimate cycle times, and evaluate the system prior to it becoming operational on the customer’s floor. That becomes particularly useful when space is limited or new robotics must integrate into an existing production line.
Painting and Dispensing demonstrate why the importance of repeatability is evident.
Certain manufacturing processes highlight the importance of controlled movements. Imagine applying a coating on hundreds of components. It’s not enough just to finish every component quickly. From the moment of starting production to the end moving, speed as well as the distance to be applied must be managed.
ASA has specialists who work on painting and dispensing applications across a variety of industries, including automotive and aerospace. Industrial robotic automation in these settings can allow for repeatable movements while limiting exposure of workers to physically demanding processes or procedures that could be dangerous.
Improved control can also cut down on the amount of material used, which can lead to a decrease in waste as well as productivity improvement.
Installing the system is not enough. Still, you need someone to take care of it.
Automation can’t replace the manufacturing know-how. The skills required to manage, maintain and manage the process are changing.
Employees need to be able recognize unusual behavior and resolve problems, as well as do the proper maintenance. Production requirements can change in time, meaning that programs and processes will require adjusting.
ASA provides on-site training in safe operation, programming, troubleshooting, in addition to maintenance for electrical and mechanical components. They also provide servicing and support on a regular basis to assess the condition of equipment and address problems that arise over the system’s operational time.
Capacity Is About More Than Being able to work faster
The expansion of capacity for Australian manufacturers doesn’t always mean buying a bigger building or adding more employees on repetitive processes. It is sometimes better to ask if the production process could be redesigned.
ASA has been creating and integrated automation solutions since 2002. It provides support to the manufacturing industry in Australia and international projects. Its method of analysis combines needs as well as engineering simulation. FANUC integration training, and service.
Automation isn’t the main goal. A good system will give a manufacturer something measurable in the form of more reliable production and quality, as well as safer processes, lower waste or a greater capacity in the existing factory.