Robots in Manufacturing
We are living in the 21st century.
You need your operations to perform like it.
The pandemic and global economy has ignited operational change within the manufacturing sector as human hands cannot keep up and meet current market demands.
Manufacturing robots are a key solution as robots are capable of executing many tasks within production facilities. Production can no longer hit aggressive goals with cumbersome processes as it is near-impossible to fully staff with human labor. Robotics is now more accessible with Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS), zero CapEx, to easily meet the needs for companies of all sizes in many industries.
How Robots Can Help the Manufacturing Industry
One of the most substantial advantages to manufacturing robots is the automation of tedious and hazardous tasks. It also has the ability to collaborate with other workcells and acts as an extension of the human laborers. Robotic manufacturing optimizes assembly line workflow and moves people away from back breaking jobs and on to more complex tasks.
Here are some examples of process improvement capabilities:
Material Handling
Robots in manufacturing are designed to handle material at a steadily increasing number of products. From blood samples to large crates, many materials are dangerous products with risks of contamination. Material handling robots need little downtime or create waste via mistakes while performing their basic function. Additionally, this solution alleviates the dangers of putting human workers in harm's way.
Welding
Welding has always been a difficult skill to get right. Additionally, the heat and pressure create a dangerous environment to make precise measurements. Any mistakes made by a human welder can result in serious injury, spoil material, and disrupt the factory floor. All these reasons are why robots for manufacturing are becoming commonplace. Based on the complexity of the task, work can be done entirely without laborers.
Assembly
One of the most daunting projects is assembly. It is a strenuous and repetitive task that can easily disrupt an entire production process. By upskilling workers and replacing bodies on the floor with robots, the possibility of an error or wasting piling up is immediately reduced.
Dispensing
Any production step that requires things like glue, paint, or sprays to be applied to a surface, dispensing robots are for you. This falls under the umbrella of mundane or hazardous jobs. These factory automation solutions have demonstrated how it can handle products better than their human counterparts leading to a sharp drop of mistakes.
Processing
There are a variety of processing equipment options available for the manufacturing sector. Workcells can specialize in tasks such as carving, polishing, or sawing before shipping final products. The robots can run in a number of autonomous capabilities for the designated job.
Advantages of Robots
in Manufacturing
The advantages and disadvantages of automation in manufacturing deserve equal consideration.
Let's begin by how to use robots in manufacturing:
Finer precision and
objectivity on the line
People are prone to errors on a fast moving line, which can be costly. Robotic workcells are reliable, precise, and objective in a fast moving environment. This saves money and time while bumping up productivity all around.
Upskill employees to focus on more complex tasks
The benefits of automating repetitive and risky jobs is that you can adjust your human workforce to be more productive. Robots act as an extension of laborers to develop a streamlined operation that encourages everyone.
Scalable to long term or immediate needs
As your factory grows, so will the needs placed on automating your warehouses. Robots excel in high production and volume settings and can automatically scale up or down based on changes in supply and demand.
Remain globally
competitive
The world is moving very fast and unless companies adapt, they will shutter. This manufacturing technology gives businesses of all sizes the chance to profit in a hostile market. Producers will see increases in productivity, higher worker and robot safety and satisfaction, and a strong bottom line.
Disadvantages of Automation
Despite providing exceptional manufacturing automation solutions, while it has demonstrated success, there are downsides to this technology. This includes:
Safe practice is part of operations
Robots require training and safety protocol for safe operations. It is important to keep employees safe on the factory floor and have impeccable safety performance in your operations.
Modern manufacturing upskills labor force
The adoption of intelligent machines means the dull, dirty, and dangerous tasks will be filled by the robotic workforce. The humans will continue to fill critical roles throughout operations.
Finite skills with
human-like tasks
Even with the major advancements in the automated sector, there are some things that manufacturing process automation still can’t do. Plenty of jobs in factories still require a human dexterity that machines have not achieved.
Capital is initially
very high
This is some expensive hardware in CapEx purchases. The cost is so high it leaves many smaller operations behind because only major conglomerates have the full capital to put up. Upgrading for some could actually be their undoing.
Innovations and Opportunities in Manufacturing: What RIOS Offers
The capabilities of robots these days is mind blowing, but that’s just the start. With every innovation, the country gets closer to building smart factories. Industrial robot manufacturers are programming to imitate human senses and they are getting more intelligent every day.
The most integral feature for the consumer-goods industry is touch. Right now, a number of facilities utilize this hardware to analyze a line and separate waste based on texture. This aspect, combined with vision-based machine learning, allows for more adept robots to automate lines.
Another highlight is robotic sight. Certain workcells contain Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors, allowing the robot to determine distances with laser reflections.
One of the latest advancements for robots for manufacturing is the ability to hear. This works by using a form of technology called laser vibrometry to detect vibrations. Like with echolocation, this allows them to pick up on basic sounds and conversations.
The future of robotic automation is a prosperous one. There are even grander plans in relation to the advancement of this technology.
Transformations in cybersecurity
By utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud-connected robotics, you can steamroll competitors. Unfortunately, it can equally make your operation more vulnerable to cyberattacks. Elevated cybersecurity is a major trend in robotics.
Lights-out
manufacturing
Lights-out manufacturing allows robots to work without interference from human operators. Installed machines run the production process from beginning to end. Many find after product integration that the hardware and software lead to improvement in productivity and labor costs.
Internet of things
capability
The Internet of Things (IoT) connects the physical with digital. IoT hooks various devices to internet applications. Robotics manufacturers are using this system of hardware and software to equip robots with sensors that allows them to comprehend their surroundings.
RIOS Intelligent Machines delivers all the factory automation solutions you require. They are creating full-stack robotic workcells that are the core building blocks of the smart factories of the future. Our models offer a suite of software-defined and adaptable machines that autonomously manage the production, movement, and packaging of goods.
Whether you require assistance automating production in real-time or architecting a full-scale "lights-out" factory, RIOS can advance your business into the 21st century and beyond.
