Automation Canada - Automation in 2021 - 19

TOP THREE AREAS WHERE A COBOT CAN DRAMATICALLY
IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY
There are quite a few repetitive tasks in manufacturing.
can guess that this work would be highly repetitive and burdensome, as
well as -due to its proximity to the machine -potentially dangerous.
As qualified workers become difficult to find, many manufacturers are
turning to automated machine tending solutions in the form of cobots.
Collaborative robots can feed parts to machines for long periods of time
without interruption, thereby freeing up operators to focus on more
invigorating and creative tasks.
2. Assembly
As with machine tending, assembly can involve tasks that are
dangerous for humans to perform. In addition, fitting parts together
requires extremely high precision and accuracy, and today's labor
shortage and high turnover rate means that companies are spending
excessive amounts of time training human resources.
Since cobots can perform a variety of extremely high-precision tasks
One of these technologies is the collaborative robot, or cobot for
short. This type of robot has built-in safety mechanisms allowing it to
work closely with humans as well as on its own. Easy teaching
mechanisms mean that cobots start covering new tasks with minimal
changeover effort, adding to their flexibility.
Let's take a look at a few key task categories that a cobot can perform,
allowing human workers to focus on value-added activities that require
more intelligence.
1. Machine tending
Machine tending refers to the activity of loading and unloading raw
material or works-in-progress to and from a machine. Most machine
tending processes are still performed manually-that is, by humans. You
CANADIAN AUTOMATION
with minimal downtime, they're an excellent option for assembly
applications. Their compact form factor and lack of caging helps them
fit easily into the most space-constrained applications, leaving room for
other needs as they arise.
3. Packaging
Packaging and palletizing applications are known for causing
repetitive stress injuries and liſting-related musculoskeletal problems
among workers.
Collaborative robots can greatly ease this strain and boost
productivity by taking over the heavy liſting. They can also make it easier
for companies to scale up during busy seasons, since hiring additional
workers can be difficult.
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 4
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Automation Canada - Automation in 2021

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