Six Steps to Evaluating Assembly & Packaging Processes for Automation - Sponsored Whitepaper

Six Steps to Evaluating Assembly & Packaging Processes for Automation

By ESS Technologies, Inc. Blacksburg, VA · www.esstechnologies.com

Introduction Companies may consider automating an assembly or packaging process for many different reasons —to increase productivity and line flexibility, to reduce rework or overhead, to maximize floor space. Robots seem like a trendy idea, and not one that every packager can embrace, believing that automating the assembly or packaging process will be time-consuming or require significant financial investment. In truth, robotic automation is more than a trend; it represents the next generation of assembly and packaging equipment and a shift in how manufacturers evaluate their processes. Many reasons exist to explain this shift. Robot prices have come down, and the flexibility allows manufacturers to automate a variety of processes while reducing changeover times and expensive tooling. Robotic systems are getting “smarter” as well. Integrated vision systems allow robots to be easily configured for line tracking, inspection, and other applications that require the robot to “see” what it is doing. Built-in connections to the robot and easy-to-use programming tools allow these sophisticated systems to be implemented in both assembly and packaging systems in a relatively short span of time. ESS Technologies, Inc., an authorized FANUC Robotics system integrator, has seen firsthand the reluctance that many companies experience when they consider automating their processes. A thorough audit of the current packaging line can help break through this reluctance. In fact, auditing the existing process is critical to the success of any automation project. It not only allows the company to fully understand the current process, but it is helpful when writing the equipment specification and calculating the return on investment (ROI). This white paper will outline the six steps to evaluating an assembly or packaging process for automation.

FANUC LR 200iC Robot Holding Up Blister- packed Medical Devices to a Vision System For Inspection

1) Understand what the audit will determine. A thorough audit gives all parties in the decision-making process an understanding of how the investment will save time, money and resources. An audit also allows packagers to understand which parts of the process are most suited to automation and gives them the ability to prioritize. Automating a production line doesn't need to happen all at once. A complete system audit allows a company to understand its current strengths and weaknesses and put the money where it will have the greatest impact.