Robot Shift

Automation is a risky business.  You’re designing machines to do the job of people and that can be a tough task (see my post How To Automate A Complex Manual Process).

The main challenges or risks with any automation project fall into three categories: 

1)  Can you go fast enough to keep up? (Throughput/Speed)

 2)  Can you find the parts, pick them up, and place them accurately all while not dropping or damaging them? (Locating and Gripping Strategies)

3)  Can you ensure quality will remain in the process without people there? (Quality Checks)

The devil is in the details.  I’ve seen countless projects go sideways because integrators made assumptions about these variables and they came back to bite them.  You don’t want a science fair project on your floor.

Great integrators are up front and realistic about the risks of projects and have tools/strategies to mitigate these risks.  Kinematic simulation software can be used to determine robot move times very accurately.  Discrete-Event simulation software can plug these robot speeds in with the entire process to get an understanding of the total process throughput/flow (i.e. fork-truck traffic, CNC cycletime, etc.).  Prototyping of grippers or gripping strategies ensures you can grab the parts and handle as required.  Prove out the quality checks.  What tools/technologies will be used to solve this and how well will they work?

Have them show you similar projects they’ve completed successfully using similar strategies/technologies.

…more to come.

Most manufacturers that are new to automation don’t know what they don’t know.  They often select the first or second vendor they talk to, and end up disappointed.  I was reminded of this this week when a new client was introduced to us with the hopes we could fix a number of their outstanding issues that another integrator didn’t/couldn’t finish.  From an integration side, it’s frustrating to compete with integrators that over promise and under deliver.  They often over-simplify and underestimate complexities and risks.

I thought I’d put together my Letterman-style Top 10 List of criteria to select an integrator.  These can be used as a checklist to make sure you’ve got someone who’s the real-deal.  Here’s #10…

#10.  They Know Their Value Proposition 

Another way of saying this is What are they better at than anyone else?  Every company has strengths and weaknesses. If an integrator can’t articulate their value proposition to you – they don’t understand themselves.  Average companies claim to be good at everything.  Great companies are focussed and know where they fit and where they don’t.   You don’t want average.

…more to come.