A manufacturing company wins a big contract. While the requirements for monthly production have increased, the facility doesn’t suddenly have more area for floor or skilled workers. An increase in production for a short period is possible, but the addition of a shift could introduce new demands for labor training, supervision, and quality control.
Situations like this reveal the importance of robotic automation. Robotics is not just replacing humans with machines. A suitable application can alter how manufacturers use their capacity to produce.
Image credit: automatedsolutions.com.au
You can check out the time difference between products
Inefficiency in manufacturing isn’t always so significant. Imagine a person spending 15 seconds looking for a particular component for 10 seconds, then applying the material, and then a few seconds transfer it. It may appear to be a small difference for a single part. The seconds add up when multiplied by thousands.
It’s the same for waste materials. Same goes for waste material.
Before making a decision on the equipment they will require, companies looking at robotic automation Australia will benefit from studying these small losses. The analysis by ASA’s experts is designed to reveal problems with quality and bottlenecks, as also waste and other constraints during a project.
Robots must be able to be integrated into the process.
A robot is just one of many engineering choices. The system could also require tools, guarding devices, controls, conveyors, fixtures, electrical integration, and communications with existing production equipment. Engineers must take into consideration the robot’s reach and payload, and how it will interact with its surroundings 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. Digital simulation lets engineers examine configurations, estimate cycle time and allow them to test the system before it is operational on the customer’s floor. It’s particularly useful in situations where there is a restricted area or new robotics is required to be integrated with an existing production line.
Painting and Dispensing demonstrate why Repetability is Important
Certain manufacturing processes highlight the importance of controlling movements. Imagine coating hundreds of components. Not just completing components quickly is the ideal outcome. It is crucial to manage the speed, distance and movement of each piece from beginning to final.
ASA has specialists working with painting and dispensing applications across various industries, including automotive and aerospace. In these settings industrial robotic automation is able to provide repeatable programmed movement while reducing exposure of employees to physical demands or potentially hazardous processes.
Reduced waste and improvement of productivity can be accomplished through better control.
Even after the installation the system will still require people
Automatism isn’t a substitute for manufacturing knowledge. It requires new skills for operating and maintaining the manufacturing process.
Employees need to be able recognize abnormal behavior and troubleshoot problems, as well as do the proper maintenance. Programs and processes can be modified later on if the production needs are changed.
ASA provides training on site in safe operating, programming, and troubleshooting, as well as maintenance for electrical and mechanical components. The company offers servicing and support to check the condition of equipment and addressing wear and tear throughout the life of the system.
Capacity is the capacity to work more quickly
The expansion of capacity for Australian manufacturers does not necessarily involve buying a bigger facility or adding more employees to repeat processes. One of the best questions to ask is whether the current manufacturing process could be improved.
ASA has been working on and integrating automation solutions since 2002, assisting companies in Australia and projects in other countries. Its approach connects needs analysis Engineering, simulation, FANUC robot integration training, servicing, and maintenance.
Automation isn’t the main goal. An investment in a system should offer a manufacturer measurable outcomes, such as greater reliability in production, better quality, safer methods with less waste, or a greater capacity.