Are you too small for Robotics?
Many medium-sized businesses are on the lookout for new ways to increase productivity, without expanding the current labor force. What if there were ways to help your team be more productive, without asking additional effort or time from them?
That’s where robotics can provide an answer.
But the question we hear most frequently resounds: Are we too small for robotics?
Do we have enough work to justify a heavy piece of machinery? One with great expense and a learning curve? Would it really make us that much more productive? The answers might truly surprise you. We have compiled some quick questions and answers that might help make your decision clear.
Do I need to automate?
Before we go any deeper into this topic, take a pause, and discard your preexisting ideas about robotics. The cost, the complexity, the learning curve; consider if there are tasks that might be automated in order to support your team, and allow them to get better work done.
Some of the reasons automation might be a good idea:
- You’re searching for smart ways to cut costs.
- You need to improve product quality
- You’re struggling to fill temporary positions
- Your processes are often repetitive, and can be challenging to retain staff
- You need to eliminate stress and workload from your team
- Certain processes are risky or overly complicated
If you’ve found that any of these needs apply to you and your team, integrating a robotics component into your business might be a good option.
What are my robot options?
We often think of robots as humanoid figures, or large pieces of heavy equipment. However industrial robots are not the only option available
Collaborative robots or “cobots” are perfect for teams who have limited floor space, and wish to have helping hands to assist current employees.
Cobots can complete many tasks at about the same rate as a human, with great flexibility in terms of skill, and minimal need for downtime. The integration of cobots can help your employees do better work which still requires that human touch.
Can I afford to automate?
Cobots can be quite efficient in terms of price, too. When considering adding a cobot to your team, factor in the hardware costs, and specialized, end-of-arm tooling, in comparison to the salary, training, benefits, downtime, overtime and product scrap remaining from current team members. Imagine laser-precise cuts that no human can accomplish, in less time than completing that task by hand.
What processes can I automate?
The better question might be- what can’t you automate?
Cobots have the ability to be moved into different areas of your work floor, and can complete countless tasks, like assembly, screw-driving, glue application, injection molding, polishing, packaging and palletizing, and quality inspection.
Any task that doesn’t require human dexterity, critical thinking, or rapid-fire decision making can be handed off to a cobot!
Are cobots right for me?
It’s very likely that there are at least few tasks that would benefit from the integration of cobots into your working space! Cobots are not designed to fully replace your staff, but rather to improve their working experience, and eliminate obstacles to their direct productivity. Cobots can automate “grunt” work, and allow your team to pour their energy and focus into the more engaging parts of their job.
Of course, the best way to find out if cobots are right for you, would be to schedule a demonstration. We’d love to chat further.
