A manufacturer wins a major contract. The monthly production demands are increased, but the manufacturing facility hasn’t suddenly gained more area for floor, skilled employees or hours of work per day. An increase in production for a short period may be possible, but adding another shift can bring new requirements for labor training, supervision, and quality control.

These circumstances reveal an significant reason to use robotics automation. Robotics isn’t only about replacing human workers with machines. It is able to alter the method by which manufacturers use their production capacity.

Image credit: automatedsolutions.com.au

Check out the Seconds that Disappear Between Products

Inefficiency in manufacturing doesn’t need to be dramatic. A worker may take 15 seconds assembling the component, then 10 seconds applying materials, and then a few seconds to move it to the next step. It may appear to be a small difference for one component. Repeated thousands of times however, those seconds become significant production time.

Wasted material is no different. The addition of a tiny amount of additional coating or dispensing materials in a huge production run could lead to a significant expense.

The businesses that are looking into robotic automation Australia can benefit by analyzing these tiny routine losses before they choose the equipment they will purchase. The needs analysis conducted by ASA is designed to pinpoint bottlenecks, as well waste, quality issues and other processes that can affect the automation project.

The robot needs to be able to accommodate the processes around it.

Selecting a robot is only one option in the engineering process. It could be necessary to install tooling, protection and controls sensors as well as conveyers, fixtures electronic integration and communication with the current production equipment. Engineers need to consider reach and payload when determining how the robot can move around its workspace and interact with the environment surrounding it.

ASA provides concept development, system design, CAD simulation, and offline programming as part of its approach to FANUC robotic automation. Engineers are able to explore configurations for the system and estimate cycles before the final system is put in the factory floor. This is especially useful when space is limited or when a new robot needs to be integrated with the existing lines of production.

Paint and Dispensing demonstrates why Replicability is Critical.

Certain manufacturing processes demonstrate the importance of controlled movement. Imagine applying a coating on hundreds of components. It’s not enough just to finish every component quickly. The movement, distance, speed, and application have to remain controlled starting from the beginning of the production line until the end.

The ASA specialists are skilled in painting and dispensing across different industries such as automotive and aerospace. Industrial robotic automation in these industries allows for repeatable motions as well as limiting the exposure of employees to physical demanding processes or processes that could risk injury.

The reduction of waste and improvement in productivity is possible through better control.

Even after installation the system requires people

Automation can’t replace the manufacturing know-how. Automation transforms the skills required to maintain and operate the process.

The employees must know how to operate equipment safely identify abnormal behavior as well as troubleshoot issues and carry out the correct maintenance. The production needs can change over time, which means that programs and processes will require adjusting.

ASA offers on-site training in safe operation, programming, troubleshooting, as well as electrical and mechanical maintenance. The company offers servicing and support for checking the condition of equipment and addressing wear throughout the lifetime of the system.

Capacity is more than just working more quickly

For Australian producers, expanding capacity doesn’t necessarily mean buying larger buildings or adding workers to repetitive processes. The more important question to consider is whether the current manufacturing process could be improved.

ASA has developed and integrated automation systems in Australia since 2002. We also assist with projects abroad. Its approach connects needs analysis, engineering, simulation, FANUC robot integration Training, and servicing.

Automating just for the sake of it isn’t the objective. A system worth investing in should offer a manufacturer measurable results, including better production reliability, higher quality, safer methods as well as reduced waste or a higher capacity.