Robotiq CEO Samuel Bouchard sat down with Josh Davis, senior channel gross sales supervisor, to debate a number one meat producer’s automation journey.
Background
This Robotiq buyer is a big meat processing facility that provides a few of the greatest quick meals chains within the United States and globally. They have constructed their popularity as leaders in automation, constantly innovating to remain forward of their business. With a manufacturing setup already leveraging expertise, they confronted challenges of their end-of-line palletizing operations. The firm operates 11 manufacturing traces with plans to scale as much as 50 extra, signaling important progress potential.
Business Challenges
The key driver for automation was the rising demand from their high-profile quick meals shoppers. The growing manufacturing quantity required a dependable resolution to eradicate bottlenecks of their palletizing course of. Relying solely on human labor was not a possible choice given the rising throughput calls for. Additionally, sustaining profitability with tight margins from giant shoppers necessitated operational effectivity.
Specific challenges included:
- Meeting the manufacturing forecasts for the following three to 5 years.
- Achieving a fast ROI by decreasing labor prices and growing manufacturing effectivity.
- Overcoming stress to stay aggressive whereas managing prices.
By addressing these challenges, the corporate aimed to make sure they might proceed to scale whereas sustaining the excessive requirements anticipated by their prospects.
Why Was Robotiq’s Palletizing Solution a Good Fit?
Our palletizing resolution offered the flexibleness and scalability the shopper wanted. Key components that made it the best selection included:
- Flexibility: The system may simply adapt to altering manufacturing wants, together with SKU and field dimension changes. This functionality was important for a dynamic manufacturing setting with a number of traces.
- Compact Design: The space-efficient system match seamlessly into their present setup with out requiring important modifications.
- Ease of Use: The resolution featured intuitive programming, making it easy for the shopper’s crew to function and preserve.
- Performance: During side-by-side testing, the answer outperformed rivals by a formidable margin, processing 10 extra packing containers per minute. This superior efficiency was a decisive issue.
- Local Support: Exceptional native assist ensured the shopper had entry to skilled steerage and troubleshooting every time wanted, additional cementing their determination.
- Proven Track Record: The resolution had been tried and examined in comparable functions, offering confidence in its reliability and ROI potential.
Tips for Automating End-of-Line Palletizing
- Start Early: Delaying automation places you at an obstacle in a aggressive market. Companies that adopted automation years in the past at the moment are scaling efficiently with 10 to twenty items. If you haven’t automated but, now’s the time.
- Focus on Proven Solutions: Opt for normal, non-customized options with a brief lead time and fast payback interval. Proven merchandise are much less dangerous and ship constant outcomes.
- Prioritize Flexibility: Choose a system that adapts to altering manufacturing wants, whether or not it’s new SKUs, field sizes, or line configurations.
- Leverage Local Support: Work with companions who can present not simply the perfect product but additionally robust native assist to maximise system uptime and effectivity.
- Break the Cash Constraint Cycle: While investing in automation requires upfront capital, the ROI is usually realized in a yr or much less, particularly with a number of shifts. Investing now will lower your expenses and enhance profitability in the long term.
Automation isn’t only a development; it’s a necessity for firms aiming to remain aggressive. The earlier you make investments, the earlier you possibly can reap the advantages of improved effectivity, lowered prices, and elevated manufacturing capability.