Automation is a key trend in modern industrial manufacturing offering improved assembly line control, quality and operator ergonomics. Improvements that in turn result in better ROI and profitability. But what are the driving forces behind the automation trend and where to start? Let us introduce you to the world of automated manufacturing with a human touch that can make a difference to your bottom line.
The world is changing at an ever-faster pace and this is having profound implications within industrial manufacturing. Increased competition bundled with unpredictable customer behaviour, shorter product lifecycles and uncertain global market conditions affecting demand and supply chain, is making it more difficult to predict what to produce and when to do it. On top of that, governmental authorities and the market require and expect manufacturing processes to be conducted in a more operator-friendly and sustainable manner.
So, how to pull off this equation and at the same time maintain competitiveness and profitability?
Historically, assembly line tools were developed for manual production methods which is dependable upon a large number of skilled operators. But with increasingly complex market conditions and the fact that skilled operators are a scarce resource, many industrial manufacturers are instead moving towards automation.
Examples of automation benefits
Powered by advancements in technology, automation in manufacturing provides a future-proof answer to increasingly precise factory and machinery requirements supporting increasing demands from customers and society. Among the measurable advantages facilitated by automation are:
- Improved assembly line control
- Shorter and more agile production paths
- Improved production scalability and flexibility
- Reduced risk of human error causing costly downtime, reworks and recalls
- Less dependency on individual operator skills
- Ability to increase operator-safety by automating high risk operations
- Improved operational scalability and flexibility
- More efficient use of materials and waste minimization thereby driving a more sustainable production with reduced environmental impact
Automation of the assembly line is a way of getting manufacturing quality right from the very start and throughout the production process. By introducing proven modular and standardized solutions and platforms, automation addresses challenges related to a growing complexity driven by mixed production and product variance that is accompanied by an increased risk of human error resulting in costly rework and recalls.
The result is more scalable and flexible manufacturing solutions and processes that increase output, productivity and shorten the time to adapt to product mix changes while supporting a more sustainable and safe ergonomic workplace for operators.
Modern automation in manufacturing combines the best of two worlds, the robotic and the human. It is however not only traditional fixture solutions, such as industrial robots, but also software that can help automate production. The fundamental basic value of a robot lies in its repeatability and reliability, whereas the value of a human operator lies in the ability to adapt to changing requirements and conditions. Taking the interaction between humans and robots a step further, collaborative robots, or cobots, are developed to work alongside humans in production environments, thereby both automating production whilst empowering the operator.
Automation can be implemented on all levels in the manufacturing process. From individual tools, to operator stations to entire assembly lines. Since most manufacturing processes start and end with a multitude of fastening operations, the tightening process is in particular an area where automation pays off. Within tightening but also in general, the automotive industry is in many ways leading the automation efforts in industrial manufacturing. Solutions that definitely bear relevance to other manufacturing industries.
The Atlas Copco automation offering
Solutions by Atlas Copco facilitate the integration of automated technology systems. Furthermore, many allow for advanced error-proofing and valuable data collection, along with more efficient and flexible production processes. Engineered to meet the needs of new and existing assembly processes, our automation offerings provide peak efficiency, extensive flexibility and high cost effectiveness in every application.
The result is increased output, productivity and quality in support of sustainability objectives while improving flexibility and operator working conditions, lowered production cost and improved ROI.
