A manufacturer is awarded a large contract. The monthly production requirement increases however the facility does not have enough space and has employees with previous experience or extra hours during the daytime. While adding another shift might temporarily help, it could also create new jobs as well as training, supervision, and demands for quality-control.
This kind of situation reveals the importance of robotic automation. Robotics goes beyond replacing people with machines. It is able to change the way manufacturers utilize their production capacity.
Image credit: automatedsolutions.com.au
You can check out the time difference between the products
Inefficient manufacturing is not always apparent. Imagine a worker taking 15 seconds searching for a piece of equipment and then 10 seconds putting it into the material and then transferring it. On one piece, the difference seems insignificant. Those seconds add up when multiplied by thousands.
It’s the same with scrap material. Similar is the case to waste materials.
Companies considering robotic automation Australia projects can benefit from examining these small, repeated losses before deciding what equipment they need. The analysis of needs by ASA aims to find bottlenecks and problems with quality, waste and other limitations to process that might affect an automation plan.
Robots should be able to be integrated into the process.
Robots are just one of many engineering options. Tooling, guardings, controls, sensor, conveyors and fixtures might also be necessary. Engineers must consider the reach and payload of the robot while making decisions about how the robot is going to move through its workspace and interact with the environment around it.
ASA’s approach to FANUC robot automation is based on the development of concepts and systems as well as CAD Simulation and offline Programming. Engineers can look at system configurations and estimate cycle times before the finished system is installed on the factory floor. That becomes particularly useful when space is constrained or if new robotics are required to integrate with a production line that is already in place.
Painting and Dispensing Show Why Repetability is Important
Certain manufacturing processes show the importance of controlled movement particularly well. Imagine applying a coating on hundreds of parts. The final result doesn’t come from complete each component at a rapid pace. It’s important to control the speed, distance and movement of each part from the beginning to the final.
ASA has specialists who work on paint and dispensing processes across various industries, including automotive and aerospace. Industrial robotic automation in these industries will allow for repeatable movement while reducing the exposure of workers to physical demanding processes or procedures that could be dangerous.
A better control of materials that are discarded can aid in productivity improvement by increasing the quantity of materials used.
The System Will Still Need People Even After Installation
Automation does not eliminate the requirement for expert manufacturing. The capabilities required to manage, maintain, and run the process change.
Employees must be able to recognize unusual behavior and resolve problems, as well as do the proper maintenance. The demands for production can shift over time, which means that processes and programs will need to be adapted.
ASA provides on-site training covering safe operation, programming troubleshooting, and mechanical and electrical maintenance. The company provides ongoing maintenance and services to ensure that equipment is in good working order and wear and tear issues are dealt with.
Capacity goes beyond just getting faster work done
An increase in capacity for Australian manufacturing companies doesn’t need to mean purchasing a larger facility or adding more workers on repetitive processes. The best question to ask is whether the current manufacturing process can be improved.
ASA has developed and integrated automation solutions in Australia since 2002. We also provide support for projects abroad. Its method of analysis combines needs and engineering simulation with FANUC integration, training and servicing.
Automation isn’t the goal. An investment-worthy system should offer a manufacturer measurable results, including better production reliability, higher quality, more secure procedures and reduced waste, or an increase in capacity.
