Designing a Robot Around the Product Instead of Forcing the Product Around the Robot

A manufacturer 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. The addition of a second shift could help in the short term, but it could also create new work as well as training, supervision and quality-control regulations.

Image credit: automatedsolutions.com.au

This kind of situation reveals an important function of robotic automation. Robotics does not only mean replacing human workers with machines. A good application could change the way in which manufacturers make use of their capacity to produce.

Take a look at the time intervals between products

Inefficient manufacturing may not be apparent. Imagine a worker taking 15 seconds searching for a piece of equipment and then 10 seconds putting it into the material, and then a few seconds transfer it. For one part the difference isn’t that significant. Repeated thousands of times, however, those seconds become substantial production time.

Material that has been wasted isn’t different. This is also true for the waste material.

Before deciding on the equipment that they will require, companies looking at robotic automation Australia could benefit from analyzing these small losses. The analysis by ASA’s experts is designed to identify problems with quality and bottlenecks, as well as the waste that can be a problem in a plan.

Robots must be able to fit into the process.

Selecting a robot is only one engineering decision. Tools, guardings, controls sensors, conveyors, and fixtures are also needed. Engineers should take into consideration the reach, payload and how the robot will move and interact in the environment.

ASA’s approach for FANUC robot automation includes the development of concepts and systems, CAD Simulation, and offline Programming. Engineers can look at system configurations and estimate the number of cycles required before the finished system is installed in the factory floor. This is particularly useful when there is a shortage of space or if new robotics require to be integrated into existing production lines.

The importance of repeatability when painting and dispensing

Controlled movement is essential in certain manufacturing processes. Imagine coating hundreds or even thousands of parts. It’s not just about completing the components quickly is the ideal outcome. From the time of beginning production through the conclusion the speed, movement and distance must be managed.

Our specialists have experience dispensing and painting across various industries such as aerospace and automotive. In these environments, industrial robotic automation can provide repeatable programmed movement while also reducing employee exposure to physically demanding or potentially hazardous processes.

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

The installation of the system isn’t enough. Still, you need someone to keep it running.

Automation doesn’t substitute for manufacturing expertise. It transforms the knowledge needed to run and maintain the manufacturing process.

Employees must be instructed to safely use equipment and to recognize abnormal behavior and troubleshoot malfunctioning components and take care of any maintenance that is required. Production requirements can change with time, which means that processes and programs will require adjusting.

ASA offers on-site training in safe operating, programming, and troubleshooting, as well as mechanical and electrical maintenance. The company provides servicing and support to check the condition of equipment and addressing wear throughout the lifespan of the equipment.

Capacity is more than Working Faster

In Australia, boosting production capacity doesn’t always mean hiring more workers for repetitive tasks or purchasing larger structures. One of the best questions to ask is whether the existing production process can still be improved.

ASA has created and integrated automation solutions in Australia since 2002. We also assist with projects in other countries. The approach is a combination of needs analysis, engineering simulation, FANUC integration along with training and servicing.

Automation isn’t a goal. A system that’s worthy of its weight in gold ought to bring tangible benefits to an enterprise, including more reliable production, better quality process, more secure processes and less waste.

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