Let’s be clear. Anybody can automate duties of their enterprise utilizing robots.
It would not matter in the event you’re new to robotics otherwise you’re an skilled automation engineer — there is a robotic answer on the market that may aid you automate your chosen activity.
However the place do you begin?
What kind of robotic answer must you use?
And what instruments, applied sciences, and elements will you want?
Let’s stroll by way of the fundamentals of beginning your first automation undertaking. With the correct data, robotic automation might be easy.
What activity must you automate first?
No matter business you might be in, you may make certain that a few of your rivals are turning to automation to enhance effectivity and scale back their prices.
No matter your place in what you are promoting, you already know there are one million and one duties to be accomplished in any given day, week, or month. From tending CNC machines to inspecting ultimate merchandise, it is tough to know the place to start out automating.
With robotics, there’s a useful abbreviation for the properties of the perfect robotic activity: 4D.
In robotics, 4D stands for “Boring, Soiled, Harmful, and/or Pricey.” The best activity for robots is boring for people to do, entails contaminants or grime, may very well be hazardous to people, or prices an excessive amount of to carry out manually.
Discovering 4D duties in what you are promoting is an efficient option to establish potential duties.
Good indicators that duties may very well 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 folks again from automating
At Robotiq, we all know robots might be quite simple to make use of. With the correct options, it is simple to get began.
However there are few issues we see holding folks again repeatedly. Chief amongst these is the concern 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 it is going to be value their time and funding.
Listed here are 3 issues that mostly maintain folks 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 do not have the bandwidth to start out with a brand new expertise. In actuality, robots typically save time so it is value placing within the time upfront.
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Lack of talent — One other frequent causes folks do not automate is that they concern they do not have sufficient talent and might want to endure in depth coaching. With new robotic options, you want a lot fewer expertise than you probably did previously.
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Lack of expertise — The brand new expertise is one other frequent hurdle for brand new robotic customers. They concern they might want to spend money on a number of costly and sophisticated expertise. With plug-and-play software kits, this should not be a restriction.
The fundamentals of any first automation undertaking
How do you get began with a brand new automation undertaking?
There are some things to consider earlier than you start automating with a robotic.
First, you must establish which duties are appropriate for automation and which may solely be carried out by human staff. This identification course of may even aid you make clear which duties clearly match the 4D properties.
Then, residence in on one particular activity you’ll use to your first automation undertaking. The best activity ought to be simple to automate and have a excessive affect in your operations.
The opposite factor to consider is ease of use and coaching. With some robotic options, nearly anybody can use them out of the field with solely minimal coaching. In order for you your first automation undertaking to be so simple as potential, this it the perfect kind of answer to decide on.
5 tricks to get began along with your first automation undertaking
Among the finest methods to simplify your first robotic deployment is to get the correct data up entrance.
Listed here are some primary ideas you need to use to make your first automation undertaking successful:
1. Outline the scope of your undertaking
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 affect to be on what you are promoting?
Along with your first robotic deployment, the important thing right here is to maintain it easy. Do not chunk off greater than you may chew.
2. Determine high-impact duties
Excessive-impact duties are these that may have probably the most impact in your day by day operations.
It makes little sense to automate a activity that may solely have a fringe profit. To your first undertaking, decide a activity that has a transparent return.
3. Select the correct robotic answer
Your selection of answer may have an necessary affect on how simple it is going to be so that you can deploy the robotic.
Options like our Robotiq software kits embrace every thing you will have to deploy robots to a selected activity.
4. Get your folks on facet
Your robotic deployment will go a lot smoother in case your persons are invested within the concept of robots.
Earlier than you add robots to your operations, clearly communicated the advantages of the expertise to your folks. Enable them to offer their enter and concepts.
5. Consider and enhance
Your first automation undertaking is simply that… your first. It is extremely probably that you’ll automate extra duties in what you are promoting.
Observe the efficiency of your first robotic cell and use this data to construct the case to your second automation undertaking.
Find out how to preserve your first robotic cell easy
There are numerous actions you may take to ensure your first robotic cell is so simple as potential.
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 go away the extra complicated robotic expertise out of your first software. Solely use a robotic with the essential expertise.
You may obtain each actions just by utilizing a robotic software package reasonably than a extra complicated different. This will provide you with every thing you have to get began shortly.
What duties would you wish to automate in what you are promoting? Inform us within the feedback beneath or be a part of the dialogue on LinkedIn, Twitter, Fb, or the DoF skilled robotics neighborhood.