Let’s be clear. Anybody can automate duties of their enterprise utilizing robots.
It does not matter in case you’re new to robotics otherwise you’re an skilled automation engineer — there is a robotic answer on the market that may make it easier to automate your chosen process.
However the place do you begin?
What sort of robotic answer must you use?
And what instruments, applied sciences, and parts will you want?
Let’s stroll by the fundamentals of beginning your first automation mission. With the precise info, robotic automation might be easy.
What process must you automate first?
No matter business you might be in, you’ll be able to 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 your online business, you already know there are one million and one duties to be achieved in any given day, week, or month. From tending CNC machines to inspecting last merchandise, it is troublesome to know the place to begin automating.
With robotics, there’s a helpful abbreviation for the properties of the best robotic process: 4D.
In robotics, 4D stands for “Boring, Soiled, Harmful, and/or Expensive.” The best process for robots is boring for people to do, entails contaminants or dust, may very well 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 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 precise options, it is simple to get began.
However there are few issues we see holding folks again time and again. Chief amongst these is the worry of the unknown. Individuals are usually hesitant to automate duties as a result of they’re uncertain of easy methods to do it or whether or not it will likely 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 begin with a brand new know-how. In actuality, robots usually save time so it is value placing within the time upfront.
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Lack of ability — One other frequent causes folks do not automate is that they worry they do not have sufficient ability and might want to endure intensive coaching. With new robotic options, you want a lot fewer abilities than you probably did previously.
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Lack of know-how — The brand new know-how is one other frequent hurdle for brand spanking new robotic customers. They worry they might want to put money into lots of costly and complicated know-how. With plug-and-play software 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, you must establish which duties are appropriate for automation and which might solely be carried out by human employees. This identification course of can even make it easier to make clear which duties clearly match the 4D properties.
Then, house in on one particular process you’ll use on your first automation mission. The best process ought to be simple to automate and have a excessive influence 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. If you need your first automation mission to be so simple as potential, this it the most effective sort of answer to decide on.
5 tricks to get began along with your first automation mission
Among the finest methods to simplify your first robotic deployment is to get the precise info up entrance.
Listed here are some fundamental ideas you should utilize to make your first automation mission a hit:
1. Outline the scope of your mission
It is useful to begin by defining the scope of your automation. Why do you need to automate and what would you like the influence 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. Determine high-impact duties
Excessive-impact duties are these that can have probably the most impact in your day by day operations.
It makes little sense to automate a process that can solely have a fringe profit. To your first mission, decide a process that has a transparent return.
3. Select the precise robotic answer
Your alternative of answer may have an vital influence on how simple it will likely be so that you can deploy the robotic.
Options like our Robotiq software kits embody every part you’ll need to deploy robots to a specific process.
4. Get your folks 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 folks. 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.
Observe the efficiency of your first robotic cell and use this info to construct the case on your second automation mission.
Easy methods to maintain 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 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 depart the extra advanced robotic know-how out of your first software. Solely use a robotic with the fundamental know-how.
You may obtain each actions just by utilizing a robotic software package reasonably than a extra advanced various. This provides you with every part you want to get began shortly.
What duties would you wish to automate in your online business? Inform us within the feedback beneath or be a part of the dialogue on LinkedIn, Twitter, Fb, or the DoF skilled robotics neighborhood.