on production sites overseas , Arrival has chosen this innovative approach to reduce costs by bringing production closer to where its vehicles are needed .
A further advantage of automation cells is that a factory structured this way can be very easily scaled up and down according to market demand , by simply adding or subtracting cells . This is a great approach for start-ups and smaller manufacturing companies who might not be in the position to invest in a huge and cost-prohibitive facility but want to give themselves space to grow .
A look within — standard components The beauty of automation cells is that they contain everything the plant needs to automate the production process — or at least some of its core aspects — in an extremely compact architecture . Like Lego building blocks , the components in the cells are structured so that they all fit together to occupy the least possible space .
This is leading to an interesting phenomenon in equipment manufacturing — the standardisation of automation machinery . Traditionally , production and assembly lines were bespoke projects that required the expertise of several high-skilled professionals , such as design engineers and systems integrators . Designing , building and testing the line took several months , was extremely expensive , and required long periods of downtime .
On the other hand , automation cells can be realised in less than one week , although up to three weeks may be needed to map out the necessary tasks within the cell and establish the optimal workflow . There are even useful digital tools to help users in the process . For example , FANUC ’ s Build Your Cell configurator guides users at every step to create the ideal cell for their application .
The benefits of automation cells are
clear — production can start shortly after the manufacturer perceives the need for new workstations , either because of unprecedented demand , or because of the necessity to adapt production to new specifications . As well as this , costs are minimised and the overall agility of the plant is increased .
It seems clear that manufacturing is evolving from an industry based on cumbersome , bespoke projects to one that requires extreme flexibility through the use of modular architectures and standardised components . Automation cells offer a great chance to innovate manufacturers ’ business models and keep up with the ever-evolving needs of an increasingly demanding global market .
For weekly updates on the new trends in smart manufacturing , and to order a wide variety of quality automation components from all major brands , visit www . euautomation . com .
FDPP - www . fdpp . co . uk 45