Manufacturing automation plays an essential role in various industrial processes. By installing robotic and other automated systems in place of, or to assist, human workers, businesses can increase production, ensure quality, and substantially reduce the risk of mistakes and injuries.
Automation solutions are cropping up in practically every industry. Manufacturers use technology to automate tasks and processes that include assembly, packaging, material handling, machining, robotic welding, advanced inspections, and shipping. Initially designed to increase productivity by taking on repetitive tasks that humans once performed, automation has now shifted the nature of manufacturing work by increasing productivity and the skill levels needed to maintain that productivity.
Industrial robots have become an essential component of modern manufacturing. They increase production and quality by repeating tasks with precise movements, few errors, and no need for breaks. They can also replace human workers on tasks with poor ergonomic conditions or exposure to hazardous materials or equipment. Many manufacturers are investing in collaborative robots, a.k.a. cobots, which can work safely in proximity to humans.
What do you imagine when the subject of manufacturing robots comes up? Like many people, you probably picture a row of ten-foot-tall robotic arms doing welding and assembly operations to vehicles moving along a production line. Or perhaps you imagine a single robot, isolated or fenced in, doing a process deemed too dangerous or difficult for human workers.
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It’s undeniable that industrial automation has brought increased efficiency, accuracy, flexibility, and dependability to the workplace. While automation will save time and effort for many more businesses in the future, specific industries have already reaped the benefits of converting at least some of their processes.
By now, you’re likely familiar with the advantages that industrial robot arms have over human workers. When used in repetitive tasks, industrial robots complete their operations without breaks, mistakes, or injuries caused by those repetitive movements. Moreover, they help to improve quality and consistency, all the while boosting production output.
As the country shifts toward normalcy with the COVID-19 pandemic waning, unemployment rates are declining. But business owners across the country face the challenge of finding enough workers to meet increasing demand.
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When you’re preparing for a first manufacturing automation project, it probably seems like there’s always more to learn about types of robots, end-of-arm-tools, how systems come together, and all the additional equipment that comes into play. Each new example you see can simultaneously provide inspiration and leave you with even more questions.
Automation in manufacturing continues to grow and redefine the shop floor. Evolving at an ever-increasing pace, robotics, and automation, by some predictions, will assume 30% of the tasks in 60% of the industrial occupations over the next few decades. And with all the benefits of automation—including higher production, fewer errors, and increased safety—it’s not surprising that automation will handle more of the tasks previously assigned to human workers.
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Automation helps streamline processes, eliminate some or all human intervention, and reduce mistakes. It allows for completing a designated task efficiently, accurately, and consistently.
