A company is awarded a significant contract. Monthly production requirements are increased, but the manufacturing facility hasn’t seen a sudden increase in flooring space, skilled workers or working hours during the daytime. While adding a second shift could temporarily help, it could be the cause of additional labor, supervision, training and demands for quality-control.
Image credit: automatedsolutions.com.au
These scenarios reveal an significant reason to use robotics automation. Robotics doesn’t just mean replacing humans with machines. A good application could change the way in which manufacturers make use of their capacity to produce.
You can check out the time difference between the products
Manufacturing inefficiency doesn’t need to be a major issue. A worker could spend 15 minutes positioning the item, then 10 seconds applying materials, and a few seconds to move it to the next step. With a single component the difference in time is not significant. When repeated thousands of times the second can result in significant production delays.
Same goes for waste material. This is also true for waste material.
Before deciding on the equipment that they will require, companies looking at robotic automation Australia can gain from analysing these tiny losses. The needs analysis conducted by ASA is designed to identify bottlenecks as well quality issues, waste and other processes that could impact an automation project.
The robot should fit the procedure around it.
The selection of a robot is a single decision in engineering. It is possible to include tooling, guarding and controls, sensors, conveyers, fixtures, electronic integration and communication with the existing production equipment. Engineers need to consider the robot’s reach and payload, in addition to how it will interact with its surroundings and how it will move.
ASA offers conceptual development, system design, CAD simulation, and offline programming as part of its strategy to FANUC’s robotic automation. The digital simulation lets engineers explore configurations, estimate cycle times, and evaluate the system prior to making it in operation on the floor of the customer’s. This is particularly useful in cases of space limitations or when a new robot needs to be incorporated into the existing lines of production.
Painting and Dispensing Show Why Repetability is Important
Certain manufacturing processes show the importance of controlled movements. Imagine coating hundreds, or thousands of components. The final result doesn’t come from complete each component at a rapid pace. It is crucial to manage the speed, distance, and movement of each component from the beginning until the close of the process.
ASA has specialists working with painting and dispensing systems across 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.
A better control of waste materials can also increase productivity by cutting down on the amount of waste material that is consumed.
Even after installation it still needs users
Automation is not a complete solution to the need for skilled manufacturing. The abilities needed to manage, maintain, and manage the process are changing.
Employees need to be able recognize unusual behavior and resolve problems, as well as carry out the correct maintenance. The processes and procedures can be changed later in the event that production requirements change.
ASA provides training on site in programming, safety as well as troubleshooting techniques and mechanical and electrical maintenance. Additionally, the company provides maintenance as well as ongoing support to evaluate the condition of equipment and to address issues that may arise during the equipment’s operational life.
Capacity is the capacity to work faster
For Australian manufacturers, increasing capacity doesn’t always mean purchasing larger buildings or adding workers to repetitive processes. One of the best questions to ask is whether the current manufacturing process is able to be improved.
ASA has been working on and integrating automation systems in Australia since 2002. We also help with projects overseas. Its method of analysis combines needs, engineering simulation, FANUC integration as well as training and maintenance.
Automation is not the only goal. A worthwhile system should give the manufacturer something tangible in terms of increased reliability, consistent quality, safer methods, less waste or additional capacity from the factory it already operates.