Protecting your operators from harm during production is essential. However, some ergonomic practices are more obvious than others. Practicing good ergonomics means protecting your operators from short- and long-term harm. This means taking things into account such as sound and noise levels, vibration levels, weight, etc. in order to ensure your operators' health and well-being.
The situation
When a major defense supplier in the US came to Atlas Copco looking for a more ergonomic solution for their assembly needs, we looked at their production processes to ensure they got the best solution. Initially, they were interested in our Pistol Nutrunner LTP. While this solution would provide them with better ergonomics, it wasn’t as likely improve their productivity or quality.
Instead, we steered them toward a better solution for their specific assembly requirements: a Straight Cable Nutrunner Tensor ST paired with an SML torque arm. Read on to discover why this solution was more ergonomic while also improving their uptime and product quality.
Our customer’s dilemma
In the beginning, our customer was looking for a quieter solution that would promote better ergonomics. They came to the conclusion that our Pistol Nutrunner LTP was what they needed. While this solution would help reduce noise levels, it would not improve their current process which had long cycle times and required difficult manual adjustments. They were not optimizing production and high scrap levels resulted in greater costs of manufacturing.
Instead of the Pistol Nutrunner LTP, we recommended a Straight Cable Nutrunner Tensor ST with an SML arm. This solution provided even better operator ergonomics than the LTP, while also reducing scrap and improving uptime.
We conducted a demo at our customer's facility that proved how our recommended solution would reduce their cycle time by at least ten minutes per part, resulting in a time savings of 800 hours annually. Our customer deemed the demo a success and was excited to implement the Tensor ST with the SML arm in their production.
Not only could this solution save them hundreds of man-hours, but it would also save them thousand per year in labor costs and scrap. By utilizing a multistep tightening strategy on the Tensor ST, operators could complete the initial tightening and achieve the correct valve height with a single tool and trigger pull which streamlined their process and eliminated multiple tools in the station. This not only provided time savings, but it also eliminated manual tightening, improving both quality and ergonomics.
Why choose Atlas Copco?
We strive to meet or exceed customer needs. While our customer thought the Pistol Nutrunner LTP would be the best tooling solution for them, we were able to find a solution that would aid them in more ways than one. The Tensor ST and SML arm used in combination would strengthen their operational ergonomics just like they wanted, while also helping to improve their bottom line. By implementing this solution into their assembly, our customer will save on both time and costs during production.
Do you have issues with your productivity, quality, or ergonomics? Contact one of our experts today for a free walk-the-line examination. Let us apply our extensive knowledge in assembly manufacturing operations to help save you money!