
Automation and robotics can help a business to stay competitive, by increasing productivity and reducing quality issues.
When you're considering adding robotics to your manufacturing workflow, there are key points to consider. These will help keep your business on a solid foundation, so that automation contributes to your business success.
However, it is important to select the right robotic arm for your business. This can be a challenge, given the numerous options available. To help with your selection, this guide briefly outlines aspects to take into account.
Assess Your Business Needs and Potential Applications
Begin by evaluating the tasks you plan to automate. Material handling, packaging, and assembly could all potentially be automated, but each task requires a tailored robotic solution.
After that, think of your objective. Both production speed and quality can be improved with robotics, but one may matter more to you than the other. This will impact what type of robotic arms you consider.
Key Features and Specifications to Consider
Hitting the right balance of specs for your use is important when you’re integrating robotics into your processes.
Payload capacity, arm reach, precision, and speed of operation will all play into your decision. Everything from number of joints on your robotic arm to degrees of freedom will vary depending on your specific needs. How much flexibility and maneuverability do you need? How much do the products it is manipulating weigh?
For long operational life and reliability, look for a robotic arm with a high Mean Time Between Failures.
This is a point when your robotic arm supplier is working closely with you to understand your needs. They should be partnering with you to create the best solution possibilities.
Robotic arm - Evaluating Cost and ROI
All investments in a business, from equipment to supplies, are significant financial decisions. Before purchasing your first set of robotic arms, it will be helpful if you assess and estimate the potential return on investment. Doing this may also help you identify how many robotic arms you can purchase without drying out your funds or leaving your company with a financial burden.
Initial Investment – Calculate the cost of your chosen robotic arm, including its installation, modification, and maintenance costs. Ask for a quotation from your supplier that includes all of these.
Productivity Gains – Estimate the improvements in productivity and the spare funds you’ll garner from the decreased need for laborers and increased output.
Payback Period – Estimate how quickly you’ll be able to get back the money you spent in the investment process.
Evaluating the cost and ROI is important. As a business owner, being ahead and knowing your finances’ ins and outs is an advantage and will ensure that your business will continue to thrive.
Safety and Compliance Considerations
There are standards set out to prioritize safety and compliance, such as ISO 10218. They have been created to safeguard operators and keep the workplace safe and accident-free.
When choosing robotic arms, make sure you integrate key safety features like collision detection sensors and emergency stops. Even the ergonomics of the design matter, to reduce potential operator strain.
Ease of Integration and Programming
Your robotic arms’ speed and accuracy are of no use if they’re not compatible with your production systems and software! Ensure their compatibility as seamless integration will minimize disruptions in your operating hours and will reduce setup time, resulting in a shorter temporary postponement of operation. Furthermore, it is ideal that your systems and robotics are easy to use. Look for ones with simplified programming to speed up deployment.
Support and Maintenance
Going back to the point earlier about Mean Time Between Failures, you’ll want to make sure the supplier you choose for your robotic arms provides comprehensive technical support. They should include troubleshooting assistance and prompt access to replacement parts.
This is also why it’s important to buy systems from reputable manufacturers such as Ufactory, Dobot, and Doosan, among others. It would be poor economy to add “cheap” robotics to your manufacturing process, only to find the after-sales service is limited or non-existent.
Scalability
Ideally, your experience integrating robotics into your processes will go so well, and have such positive ROI, that you continue to add more. Make sure the systems you consider can scale easily.
And make sure they have the flexibility to adapt to new tasks or processes, too. As your business grows, you will want to be able to use your equipment to seize more opportunities.
Automation and specifically, robotic arms will ensure increased productivity for your business, but you must pick a perfect match to your task requirements and business needs. Their features, cost, specifications, and limitations also vary, so ensure that you thoroughly assess those factors before investing.
To learn more about robotic arms and automation, contact our team for more thorough guidance. Investing in robotic arms and automation-aided business operations may set your business up for more guaranteed success!