Five Reasons to Use Robotics in Manufacturing

Robotics and manufacturing are a natural partnership. Robotics play a major role in the manufacturing landscape today. Automated manufacturing solutions should be a key part of any operation that strives for maximum efficiency, safety, and competitive advantage in the market. Manufacturing robots automate repetitive tasks, reduce margins of error to negligible rates, and enable human workers to focus on more productive areas of the operation.

Robots used in manufacturing fill numerous roles. Fully autonomous robots in manufacturing are commonly needed for high-volume, repetitive processes — where the speed, accuracy, and durability of a robot offer unparalleled advantages. Other manufacturing automation solutions include robots used to help people with more intricate tasks. The robot executes components of the process such as lifting, holding, and moving heavy pieces.

Robotic process automation in manufacturing allows companies to remain competitive globally — offering an efficient, viable alternative to offshoring and fulfilling the skills gap in areas where it may be difficult to recruit the necessary employees. Manufacturing robots enable employees to focus on innovation, efficiency, and other, more intricate processes that ultimately lay the groundwork for growth and success. With a dedicated manufacturing automation solution in place, you can see increased productivity, improved worker safety and satisfaction, and a better bottom line.

Robots used in manufacturing create efficiencies all the way from raw material handling to finished product packing.
Robots can be programmed to operate 24/7 in lights-out situations for continuous production.
Robotic equipment is highly flexible and can be customized to perform even complex functions.
With robotics in greater use today than ever, manufacturers increasingly need to embrace automation to stay competitive.
Automation can be highly cost-effective for nearly every size of a company, including small shops.

Five Ways Robots Don’t Eliminate Manufacturing Jobs

When North American companies can't compete, jobs are sent offshore.
Robots in manufacturing help to create jobs by restoring more manufacturing work.
Robots protect workers from repetitive, mundane, and dangerous tasks, while also creating more desirable jobs, such as engineering, programming, management, and equipment maintenance.
Robots free up manpower to let companies maximize workers’ skills in other areas of the business.
Today’s labor market includes fewer skilled manufacturing workers due to decades of offshoring, and robots eliminate the shortfall.

Five Ways Robotics Make North American Manufacturers Globally Competitive

Automation allows domestic companies to be price-competitive with offshore companies.
Robotics in manufacturing achieve higher throughput, so companies can vie for larger contracts.
Robots achieve ROI quickly, often within two years, offsetting their upfront cost.
Department of Labor statistics indicates that American workers are maximizing their output capacity, and robots help manufacturers break that ceiling.
In a world where the importance of green manufacturing is growing, robots save on utilities, since they don't require climate control or lighting, and they create cleaner spaces.

Revolutionizing Assembly

Moving quickly and accurately, robots handle parts too small for human eyes and fingers and never make mistakes. That's one reason growing numbers of products are designed for robotic assembly from the outset.

Vision technology is fast becoming standard, reducing the need for expensive fixturing and tooling, and force sensing let a robot adapt when an assembly problem is encountered.

Every manufacturer can benefit from putting robots to work. Find out what manufacturing robots can do for your business!