Incorporate automation into the design of the product , whether that ’ s by giving the part a feature that allows it to be picked up by a robot , located or inspected by a vision system .
Prepare to automate
6 design tips to futureproof your production
Manufacturing has been one of the UK ’ s success stories , with an output valued at £ 217bn . But with Make UK revealing that we ’ ve dropped out of the top 10 manufacturing nations for the first time ( down to 12th ), our position is vulnerable unless we significantly increase our level of automation .
Helping manufacturers to increase their productivity , reduce waste , improve product quality and alleviate labour shortages , the benefits of automation are myriad . And as the only G7 country to sit outside the top 20 in terms of robot density ( we are actually 25th in the IFR global robot league table ), accelerating our automation uptake is essential if we are to retain our place as a leading manufacturing nation .
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It is therefore important that when designing a new product , planning a new production line or upgrading your existing facility , automation is factored in from the very start of the process , not just as an afterthought . Not only does this keep down costs , it also ensures that any automation will be right first time , minimising downtime , boosting productivity and resulting in a solution that is fit for purpose .
Here , Oliver Selby , Head of Sales for FANUC UK , outlines six key design considerations for seamless automation integration …
1 . Embrace the automation process
It may sound obvious , but keep front of mind the fact that your product ’ s manufacturing process will need to benefit from automation . This can generally only be done by incorporating automation into the design of the product , whether that ’ s by giving the part a feature that allows it to be picked up by a robot , located or inspected by a vision system , or allowing access for a welding torch or fixturing , for example .
This mindset also translates to the wider production line . We see products designed using multiple