JULY 20219MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY INSIGHTSoperations. Today's robotic solutions are designed with a certain set of tasks in mind. Managers must identify the best fit workflows to deploy robots, in which their capabilities can be leveraged for maximum effect. Are there turnover-prone positions that are a struggle to adequately staff? Better yet, are these positions characterized by repetition or long horizontal movements? Using positions with consistent staffing challenges as a guide, find where robotic abilities overlap to automate entire processes or key repetitive elements. Basic functions like load transportation, storage and retrieval are particularly well-suited for automation. Robotic lift trucks, for example, have the point-to-point navigation capability to provide consistent, round-the-clock transport productivity, and more advanced solutions can even autonomously reach deep into storage racks up to 30 feet high. Robotics suppliers require a common set of facility-specific information to qualify an operation for robotics, and then design and quote a solution. This includes:- Facility CAD drawing, preferably with stops and aisles highlighted Load dimensions and weight range Throughput levels Aisle widths Travel distance Speed limit Future goalsPlan for phased implementationJust as Rome was not built in a day, transitioning to automation does not happen overnight. A longer process done right will always be more effective than an error-filled rush to the finish. Operations should consider a phased approach to robotics, moving incrementally from simpler to more complex tasks across various applications and workflows. Scaling up in this manner allows the rest of the organization to get comfortable with automation and provides the flexibility to work out any kinks in critical processes. Planning across 5-10 years can account for the continued evolution of technology and a changing competitive landscape. A longer-term master plan also provides a critical platform to share future developments and gain buy-in for continued capital investment. The knowledge to get up and runningAccording to the 2019 MHI Annual Industry Report, 87% of survey respondents identified robotics and automation as technologies that will have a significant impact on the supply chain in the next 10 years. With the market showing a greater appetite for robotics, more providers will join the market and end users must become better-informed consumers of robotics solutions and services. This practical knowledge is critical to select vendor partners, set realistic goals and ultimately experience successful results.
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