Let’s be clear. Anybody can automate duties of their enterprise utilizing robots.
It does not matter for those who’re new to robotics otherwise you’re an skilled automation engineer — there is a robotic resolution on the market that may make it easier to automate your chosen activity.
However the place do you begin?
What kind of robotic resolution do you have to use?
And what instruments, applied sciences, and parts will you want?
Let’s stroll by way of the fundamentals of beginning your first automation mission. With the suitable data, robotic automation may be easy.
What activity do you have to automate first?
No matter trade you’re in, you’ll be able to ensure that a few of your opponents are turning to automation to enhance effectivity and scale back their prices.
No matter your place in your online business, you understand there are 1,000,000 and one duties to be carried out in any given day, week, or month. From tending CNC machines to inspecting last merchandise, it is troublesome to know the place to start out automating.
With robotics, there’s a useful abbreviation for the properties of the best robotic activity: 4D.
In robotics, 4D stands for “Boring, Soiled, Harmful, and/or Expensive.” The best activity for robots is boring for people to do, entails contaminants or filth, might be hazardous to people, or prices an excessive amount of to carry out manually.
Discovering 4D duties in your online business is an effective approach to determine potential duties.
Good indicators that duties might be appropriate for robots are that they’re repetitive, time-consuming for people, and are low-value in comparison with different steps in your manufacturing course of.
The three issues that maintain individuals again from automating
At Robotiq, we all know robots may be quite simple to make use of. With the suitable options, it is easy to get began.
However there are few issues we see holding individuals again repeatedly. Chief amongst these is the worry of the unknown. Persons are typically hesitant to automate duties as a result of they’re not sure of easy methods to do it or whether or not will probably be price their time and funding.
Listed here are 3 issues that mostly maintain individuals again from automating:
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Lack of time — Many individuals keep away from automating as a result of they do not have sufficient time. They really feel like they’re stretched too skinny and haven’t got the bandwidth to start out with a brand new know-how. In actuality, robots typically save time so it is price placing within the time upfront.
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Lack of ability — One other frequent causes individuals do not automate is that they worry they do not have sufficient ability and might want to endure in depth coaching. With new robotic options, you want a lot fewer expertise than you probably did prior to now.
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Lack of know-how — The brand new know-how is one other frequent hurdle for brand new robotic customers. They worry they might want to put money into numerous costly and complicated know-how. With plug-and-play utility kits, this should not be a restriction.
The fundamentals of any first automation mission
How do you get began with a brand new automation mission?
There are some things to consider earlier than you start automating with a robotic.
First, it is best to determine which duties are appropriate for automation and which might solely be carried out by human employees. This identification course of may also make it easier to make clear which duties clearly match the 4D properties.
Then, residence in on one particular activity you’ll use in your first automation mission. The best activity needs to be simple to automate and have a excessive impression in your operations.
The opposite factor to consider is ease of use and coaching. With some robotic options, virtually anybody can use them out of the field with solely minimal coaching. In order for you your first automation mission to be so simple as doable, this it the perfect kind of resolution to decide on.
5 tricks to get began together with your first automation mission
Among the finest methods to simplify your first robotic deployment is to get the suitable data up entrance.
Listed here are some fundamental suggestions you should utilize to make your first automation mission a hit:
1. Outline the scope of your mission
It is useful to start out by defining the scope of your automation. Why do you need to automate and what would you like the impression to be on your online business?
Along with your first robotic deployment, the important thing right here is to maintain it easy. Do not chew off greater than you’ll be able to chew.
2. Establish high-impact duties
Excessive-impact duties are these that may have probably the most impact in your every day operations.
It makes little sense to automate a activity that may solely have a fringe profit. On your first mission, choose a activity that has a transparent return.
3. Select the suitable robotic resolution
Your alternative of resolution may have an necessary impression on how simple will probably be so that you can deploy the robotic.
Options like our Robotiq utility kits embody all the things you will have to deploy robots to a specific activity.
4. Get your individuals on facet
Your robotic deployment will go a lot smoother in case your persons are invested within the thought of robots.
Earlier than you add robots to your operations, clearly communicated the advantages of the know-how to your individuals. Enable them to offer their enter and concepts.
5. Consider and enhance
Your first automation mission is simply that… your first. It is extremely probably that you’ll automate extra duties in your online business.
Monitor the efficiency of your first robotic cell and use this data to construct the case in your second automation mission.
How you can preserve your first robotic cell easy
There are numerous actions you’ll be able to take to verify your first robotic cell is so simple as doable.
One motion is to make sure you are following a well-traveled path. Construct on the expertise of the individuals who have automated robots earlier than you. Don’t reinvent the wheel.
One other motion is to depart the extra complicated robotic know-how out of your first utility. Solely use a robotic with the fundamental know-how.
You’ll be able to obtain each actions just by utilizing a robotic utility equipment quite than a extra complicated various. This provides you with all the things that you must get began shortly.
What duties would you prefer to automate in your online business? Inform us within the feedback under or be part of the dialogue on LinkedIn, Twitter, Fb, or the DoF skilled robotics group.