Page 58 - Packaging News magazine Jul-Aug 2021

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SMART FACTORY | www.packagingnews.com.au | July-August 2021
Unlock value with cobots
While collaborative robots have been enabling manufacturers to run agile operations and increase performance for more than a decade, today’s cobots are built to do even more. PKN asks Universal Robots to break down how users can unlock more value from this automated workforce.
IN the rapidly advancing manufac- turing environment, where consum- ers are driving product demand, and brand owners are under increased competitive pressure to respond with speed and flexibility, automa- tion is no longer a nice to have – it is a must. So says James McKew,
regional director for Universal Robots Asia-Pacific.
“Considering these competitive pressures, how can manufacturers still run a profitable production line? By accelerating automation.”
And that includes cobots.
Speaking to cobots’ value in the manufacturing environment, McKew shares five key benefits to encourage reticent adopters.
1INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY
In almost any production environ- ment, cobots can significantly
increase productivity. They work alongside humans, taking on dull, repetitive tasks, reducing human error, and freeing humans up for more valuable tasks.
“We have seen companies increase their production efficiency by 30 per cent plus. Automating repetitive tasks is key,” McKew says.
2MORE PROFITS
Every business is driven by prof- its, and while some might see the ini- tial costs of deploying a cobot as a setback, this is unfounded, according to McKew.
“Humans can leverage cobots to ensure accuracy and consistency, so a plant doesn’t experience any unnec- essary downtime,” adds McKew.
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EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION
McKew says that rather than tak- ing away jobs, cobots have the ability to increase employee satisfaction, which in turn increases recruitment and staff retention.
“Removing dull, repetitive and sometimes dangerous jobs from your employees’ repertoire allows them to focus on adding more value in areas that matter more,” he says.
Increased production efficiency: Cobots deliver more than just a helping hand.
unpredictable consumer behaviour, make it hard for manufacturers to know what to produce, how much will be needed, when and where,” McKew explains.
“With cobots, manufacturers can scale production up and down, as demand requires, and expand into new markets more quickly. They can perform any task from metal stamp- ing and testing, and quality inspec- tion, to machine tending.
“Cobots have even evolved to be able to automate heavy-duty and multi-part material handling, with- out compromising on precision.”
Cobots have been adding signifi- cant value for over a decade. The time is now for manufacturers to adopt cobots and unlock more value in their businesses. ■
For more on this topic, tune in to The PKN Podcast, Episode 24, in which PKN publisher Lindy Hughson talks with James McKew, regional director for Universal Robots Asia-Pacific, about the cobot revolution and how it will benefit manufacturing in Australia and New Zealand. You can download the podcast free on your favourite platform, or head to packagingnews.com.au and click on the Podcast tab.
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“Committing to zero defects is a great way to stand out from competi- tors. Here, cobots not only increase output, but they also prevent the unnecessary waste of raw materials,” McKew continues.
ENHANCED FLEXIBILITY
Finally, McKew says that if there’s one thing that the pandemic has taught manufacturers, it is the need to be flexible.
“Socio-economic, economic and political uncertainty, coupled with
HIGHEST QUALITY
According to McKew, cobots play a big role in improving product qual- ity by eliminating human error, ensuring consistency and accuracy, enhancing the ability to create more complex goods, while identifying errors along the way.
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