Automation cells and the standardisation of manufacturing components
The COVID-19 pandemic , a tense socio-political global climate , and an increasingly demanding customer base have all contributed to a growing need for flexibility in manufacturing . As a result , manufacturers need equipment that can be quickly and easily reconfigured , rather than fixed production lines where every change may require weeks of downtime . Here Neil Ballinger , head of EMEA at EU Automation , a global supplier of quality automation components , explains the role of automation cells in transitioning to a more agile business model .
Customisation and high-mix low-volume ( HMLV ) production are not new concepts in manufacturing . Both have risen to prominence in the last decade , with the demand for increasingly personalised products and services . These trends require manufacturers to rapidly adapt to changing market conditions , and to reconfigure their production and assembly lines accordingly .
The need for adaptability intensified during the pandemic , when many production plants experienced a boom in demand and needed to set up extra lines to produce critical supplies such as respirator components and personal protection equipment ( PPE ). On the other hand , some companies needed the flexibility to switch their production to entirely new items — from alcoholic drinks to hand sanitiser , from luxury fashion to medical gowns .
The solution in a nutshell In this context , closed-loop automation cells have become increasingly popular . Automation cells , or robot cells as
44 FDPP - www . fdpp . co . uk
Neil Ballinger , head of EMEA at EU Automation ,
Compared to traditional production lines , automation cells offer unprecedented flexibility .
they are often called , are closed systems containing equipment that can automate several stages of the production process . For example , they may include robotic arms that load and unload the parts to be machined , in-feed and out-feed conveyors , and machine vision systems that determine what part is being fed-in , and that measure and inspect post-processed items .
Compared to traditional production lines , automation cells offer unprecedented flexibility . Since the days of factory pioneer Henry Ford , manufacturing plants have worked in a similar way — with long , linear production lines where items pass from station to station , being processed and finally inspected and shipped . In these lines , every change requires the intervention of multiple experts and can lead to several weeks of expensive downtime .
On the other hand , automation cells allow for a modular and easily scalable factory structure . These cells can be quickly rearranged on the factory floor whenever manufacturers need to restructure the production process — some models even come on wheels . Another great advantage of automation cells is that they can be placed in any building where there is enough floor space . This means facilities like empty warehouses can be easily repurposed to set up a new production plant in record times .
This approach is perfect for manufacturers that need to establish a new production line very quickly , for example to respond to a sudden surge in demand . However , it will also facilitate those who are planning to bring production closer to the final customer to save on logistics costs , reduce lead time and minimise the company ’ s overall carbon footprint .
For example , British electric vehicles ( EVs ) start-up Arrival uses flexible automation cells in its microfactories , which are small-scale production plants that the company is planning to set up on the outskirts of cities worldwide . The use of automation cells allows the company to set up new production lines very quickly , so instead of relying