A big contract is won by a manufacturer. Monthly production requirements increase, yet the factory isn’t gaining floors, employees with experience or even hours per daytime. Adding another shift might help temporarily, but it can also create new work as well as training, supervision and quality-control regulations.

These scenarios reveal an important reason for robotic automation. Robotics goes beyond replacing people with machines. It could be utilized to alter the method by which manufacturers use their existing capacity for production.

Image credit: automatedsolutions.com.au

Check out the time that passes between the products

Manufacturing inefficiency doesn’t have to be evident. A worker may take 15 minutes putting the part in place, then 10 seconds applying substances, and then a few seconds to move it onto the next stage. With a single component the difference in time is not significant. Repeated thousands of times the seconds are significant production time.

The same is true for wasted material. This is also true for waste material.

Before selecting the equipment they require, companies considering robotic automation Australia could benefit from analyzing the tiny losses. The analysis of needs by ASA aims to pinpoint bottlenecks, as well quality issues, waste and other limitations to process that might affect an automation plan.

The robot has to fit the process around it

A robot is only one of many engineering options. Guardings, tools, controls sensors, conveyors, and fixtures might also be required. Engineers must take into consideration the robot’s reach and payload as well as how it interact with its surroundings and move about.

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 and estimate cycles before the system is operating in the factory of the customer’s. This is especially helpful in cases of space limitations or when new robotics have to be integrated into the existing lines of production.

The importance of consistency in painting and dispensing

Certain manufacturing processes show the importance of controlled movements. Imagine coating hundreds of components. Making components faster is what you want to achieve. It’s important to control the speed, distance, and movement of each part from beginning to close of the process.

Our specialists have experience painting and dispensing across different industries such as aerospace and automotive. In these settings, industrial robotic automation allows for repeatable, programmed movements and minimizes exposure of employees to physically challenging or potentially hazardous processes.

An improved control over waste material can also aid in productivity improvement by decreasing the amount of unneeded materials used.

Even after the installation the system will still require individuals

Automation doesn’t eliminate the requirement for expert manufacturing. It requires new skills to manage and maintain the process.

Employees must be able to operate equipment in a safe manner and recognize any abnormalities, troubleshoot faults, and perform appropriate maintenance. The production needs can change in time, meaning that procedures and protocols will need to be adapted.

ASA offers on-site training in programming, safe operation, troubleshooting, and electrical and mechanical maintenance. It also offers servicing and support on a regular basis to assess the condition of the equipment and deal with wear over the system’s operating time.

Capacity is the capacity to work more quickly

In Australia, increasing capacity for production does not always mean adding more employees to repetitive jobs or purchasing larger structures. The better question to ask is whether your current production process can still be improved.

ASA has been working on and integrating automation systems in Australia since 2002. We also help with projects overseas. The method is based on analysis of needs, engineering, simulations, FANUC robotic integration and training and also servicing.

The goal isn’t to automate for its own sake. An investment in a system should provide a company with quantifiable outcomes, such as better production reliability, higher quality, safer processes and reduced waste, or an increase in capacity.