Industrial automation is the use of control systems and information technologies to reduce the need for human work in the production of goods and services.
Description of the tool
Methodology
Modelling of production process with mathematical description, followed with an optimization of process steps (could also result in new steps). This is many time combined with simulation of production processes in order to calculate ROI for the given improvement.
Case study
Handling operations occur in practically all production process. At first they we carried out manually, but then the development of hardware components made it possible to relieve people from the necessity of handling heavy loads. From this standpoint the industrial robot is not something supernatural. It is just the most perfect form of the technique used in handling processes. Their purpose is not only to substitute or imitate manual actions of human beings, but also to perform production process more quickly and better than a man. Robots fill the gap between special-purpose automation and human endeavour. They have demonstrated an ability to perform work that requires simple repetitive motions and, therefore, can relieve human operators from hazardous or monotonous tasks. The robot´s ability to be easily taught or reprogrammed distinguishes it from other types of automated handling equipment.
Objective of the tool
Outcome expected
Optimization of one or more KPIs of the given production company (reduce costs, improve quality and can increase manufacturing speed).
Why used
Company wants to expand/optimize its production processes.
Main symptoms are:
- higher cost for production as competitors
- quality of the product has wide variety
- increase of production volume is not possible
Scope of the tool
Where Used
Production companies who have their processes mainly executed by human labour.
How Used
Improvement tool with involvement of external consultants, who have the competence to map the production process steps and construct the model, which represents the given process.
Development
Tool Training
Some processes are easy to automate, but in most cases it needs a detailed understanding of the process steps. Already formulation of the model for the given production process can be challenging.
Tasks Assigned
- Process overview, planning and simulation
- Cost calculation of designed system
- System design refinement
- Implementing the design