A series of machines all connected via a transfer system that includes an electrical control system is the definition of an automated production line.
Are you getting the maximum throughput from your production line? If not, think about adding some intelligent systems and machines to help increase production rates, save on manual labour costs while increasing the quality consistency of your products, and make your factory safer for all employees. Automating your factory is the only way you can keep up with the demands of your customers and stay ahead of your competitors.
Every industry requires some form of automation to make products of higher quality, increase productivity output, decrease manual labour costs, and execute impossible or repetitive manual tasks. If planned carefully, investment in automating your production line can reap great rewards in a short space of time. Return on investment like this can enable you to get paid back within 1-2 years. There are a few considerations when deciding to automate your production line:
People are one of the most important considerations. Ensuring your team is dedicated to consistently improving and growing the business is vital to successfully automating your entire production process. Your team’s backing and motivation to automate various processes will ensure easier transitions when the systems are implemented.
Know your process and procedures. Examine your current process, and find bottlenecks within your system. In the front lines on the shop floor, this can give you excellent ideas on how to improve the system.
The type of automation needed. There are generally three types: Fixed, Programmable and Flexible automation. Fixed automation is when you manufacture only one product in large volumes continuously and there is a fixed sequence of operations. Programmable automation is used when you are producing many variants of a product in batches. This would require you to keep changing and programming the changes as your line grows. Flexible automation is needed when you have a multi-variant batching system that requires intensive changes consistently. With this system, you typically see robots and high-speed machines with huge volumes per day.
No matter the size of the production plant, automating the processes can start in small increments until you can eventually get to a fully automated system. Proper investigation and studies of your factory and you can start tackling those bottlenecks to achieve greater overall efficiency.
– View some of our successful automation integrations
For all your industrial automation needs, please contact Motion Tronic Projects (031) 701-1620 / projectsales@motiontronic.co.za
