A manufacturing company gets a large contract. The monthly production requirement increases but the company does not have enough space and employees with experience or additional hours during the day. An increase in production for a short period may be possible, but an additional shift may bring new labor requirements, training, supervision and quality control.
This kind of situation reveals the importance of robotic automation. Robotics does not only mean replacing human beings with machines. It is able to alter the method by which manufacturers use their existing production capacity.
Image credit: automatedsolutions.com.au
Watch the second-to-second time between products
Inefficiency in manufacturing isn’t always so noticeable. An operator could spend 15 seconds assembling the component before implementing 10 seconds of materials, and a few seconds more to move it to the next step. The time difference could seem minor for one component. If repeated a thousand times, these seconds can add significant production time.
It’s the same for scrap material. A tiny amount of leftover coating or dispensing material multiplied in a production run with a high volume could be a substantial expense.
Companies considering robot automation Australia projects could gain from examining these minor loss events repeatedly before deciding what equipment they need. The analysis provided by ASA is designed to reveal bottlenecks and quality issues, as in addition to waste and other constraints during a project.
A Robot Has to Fit the Process Around It
The choice of a robotics system represents only one decision in engineering. The system may also need guarding, tooling devices, controls fixtures, conveyors, electronic integration, and connectivity with existing production equipment. Engineers must consider the reach and payload of the robot while making decisions about how the robot will move about its work area and interact with everything around it.
ASA provides concept development, system design, CAD simulation, and offline programming as part of its approach to FANUC robotic automation. Digital simulation lets engineers explore configurations, estimate cycle times, and to test the system before it is functional on the floor of the customer’s facility. This is particularly helpful in cases of space limitations or if new robotics require to be integrated with the existing lines of production.
Painting and Dispensing demonstrates why Repetability is Important
Controlled movement is especially important in some manufacturing processes. Imagine coating hundreds or thousands of components. Not just completing components quickly is the ideal outcome. From the moment of starting production through the conclusion all the movements, speed and distance must be controlled.
The experts at ASA are proficient in painting and dispensing across industries such as aerospace and automotive. In these environments industrial robotic automation allows for the ability to repeat, programmed, and controlled movements. It also reduces employee exposure to potentially hazardous processes.
Better control may also reduce the unnecessary use of materials, leading to lower waste alongside productivity gains.
The installation of the system isn’t enough. You still need people to keep it running.
Automatism doesn’t replace manufacturing knowledge. It changes the skills required to manage and maintain the process.
Employees should be able recognize abnormal behavior and troubleshoot problems, as well as carry out the correct maintenance. Production requirements can change, meaning procedures and programs might require modification later.
ASA provides training on-site for programming, safe operation, troubleshooting, and mechanical and electrical maintenance. The company provides ongoing maintenance and repairs to ensure that equipment is in good working order and wear and tear issues are addressed.
Capacity is more than working faster
For Australian manufacturers, increasing capacity doesn’t necessarily mean buying larger buildings or adding labor to repetitive processes. The better question to ask is whether your current manufacturing process could be improved.
ASA has been developing and the integration of automation solutions since 2002. It provides support to the manufacturing industry in Australia, as well as international projects. The method is based on the analysis of requirements with engineering, simulations FANUC robotic integration, training, and also servicing.
Automation is not for its own sake. An investment-worthy system must provide the manufacturer with measurable results, including more reliable production, higher quality, more secure procedures and reduced waste, or an increase in capacity.