How Can SMEs Benefit From New Generation of Robots ?
Published on : Friday 05-04-2024
Industrial Automation explores the significance of cobots for SMEs and how they can benefit from robotics.
Image Credit 1: Image by macro vector on Freepik
Manufacturing is one of the top contributing sectors to a country’s GDP. It has witnessed significant growth in recent years across the world. In India, the manufacturing sector has come a long way, now focusing on technology and innovation. According to an article published by Bain & Company, India’s manufacturing has the opportunity to become a US$1 trillion industry by 2028.
As the industry is showing great opportunity for the future, how can small manufacturers or SMEs benefit from it? How can they leverage a new generation of robots to drive innovation in the industry?
The role of robotics in manufacturing
It is no wonder that automation technology has transformed industries and workplaces. Technologies like robotics are playing a pivotal role in automating various manufacturing processes from assembly to material handling and packaging to welding and quality inspection.
Robotics can also play significant roles in shaping the manufacturing landscape:
● It can work continuously without taking breaks or rest, leading to improved productivity in manufacturing operations.
● Robots are highly flexible and adaptable which allows manufacturers to reconfigure production lines quickly in response to changing demand or product requirements.
● Robotics in manufacturing enables precise and consistent execution of manufacturing tasks which leads to increased product quality and lowered defects.
● Robots in manufacturing can also perform complex tasks with high accuracy and repeatability, reducing the likelihood of human errors while ensuring compliance with strict quality standards.
● It can help manufacturers in making data-driven decisions by leveraging data analytics and machine learning techniques.
● Robotics in manufacturing can accelerate the capabilities of human workers by automating repetitive or physically demanding tasks.
● Robots in manufacturing can also contribute to achieving sustainability goals by optimising energy consumption and minimising waste and environmental impact in manufacturing operations.
Image Credit 2: Image by user6702303 on Freepik
Why have SMEs lagged in the adoption of robotics?
Despite the increasing adoption of robots and cobots (collaborative robots) in manufacturing, SMEs have been slow to this adoption. The key challenges to this slow adoption for SMEs include safety, strategy, performance, involvement, and training. Other challenges are investment and cost-effectiveness. Purchasing a robot is expensive, quickly amounting to tens of thousands of euros.
Many SMEs also face challenges like limited space and a lack of a skilled talent pool. The installation of industrial robots takes a lot of time and space. It also becomes crucial that it should not endanger workers on the shop floor. These and others are key barriers that SMEs must overcome to bring automation into their real-world business.
How can SMEs make the most out of their robotic automation?
Small manufacturers can leverage the new generation of robots or cobots to improve efficiency, productivity, and flexibility in their operations. By utilising robotics, they can also automate physically demanding repetitive tasks, significantly improving employee health and job satisfaction.
Here are several ways SMEs in manufacturing can make the most of robotic advancements to grow their business.
· Small businesses or SMEs need to identify repetitive tasks that can be automated using robots. These tasks include pick-and-place operations, packaging, assembly, and material handling, among others. Leveraging robots for these tasks can minimise labour costs while lowering errors.
· SMEs must use a virtual simulation of a robotic automation environment before implementing it. They should identify issues, set objectives, and figure out which technologies to bring in for return on investment.
· Investment in collaborative robots (Cobots) can be advantageous for businesses as they can work alongside human workers safely. Cobots are designed in a way that they can be used easily to program and deploy, which makes them suitable for small manufacturers with limited expertise in robotics.
· Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) can be a crucial solution in reducing the direct, upfront cost of purchasing and maintaining robotic solutions. As RaaS is a pay-per-use model, it helps SMEs upscale or downscale robotic integration in their operations.
· SMEs can utilise robots that can be easily reprogrammed and redeployed for different tasks or products. Such flexibility allows them to adapt to changing production requirements quickly and efficiently.
· Training and upskilling of employees play a crucial role in operating and maintaining the new generation of robots. This will significantly foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within the organisation.
Benefits of robotics to SMEs
Let us explore the benefits of leveraging robotics in SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises):
● Robots provide flexibility
● Speedy onboarding and seamless integration
● Robots minimise employees’ workload
● Robots provide support throughout the process chain
● Enhance a company’s attractiveness
● Data-driven decision making, and
● Increased RoI.
Now, see how robotics is assisting SMEs in a real-world scenario.
STELA Laxhuber GmbH is a Massing, Germany-based provider of drying solutions. The medium-sized welds and manufactures sophisticated drying systems in all conceivable sizes and fields of application for customers across the world. As the company wants to increase its welding process of drying systems and fan rotors in the dryers, it leveraged KUKA automation solutions.
Image Credit 3: Image by freepik
This helped STELA Laxhuber GmbH to weld 10 times faster, with maximum quality. This means that the company now only takes 50 minutes to weld a fan.
Andreas Utz outlined, “Performed manually, the welding takes about a day. With the robot cell, we’re in the fast lane of production now, in terms of both time and quality. This is because the seams are welded so perfectly in a short time and in a manner that would be impossible by hand. Now we are welding in quantities we never dreamed possible and have been able to once again manage the volume of orders.”
There are more such real business scenarios where SMEs are making the most of robotics.
There is an increasing number of robotics companies and startups in India and abroad that are transforming industries through their advanced and innovative solutions. Some of the top companies and startups to watch out for bringing innovation to your business are:
● Scythe Robotics – Longmont, Colorado
● Comau – Southfield, Michigan
● Rethink Robotics – Bochum, Germany
● Systemantics – Bengaluru, India
● Wipro PARI – Pune, India
● Gridbots – Ahmedabad, India
● Vyorius – Delhi, India
● OMRON – Kyoto, Japan
● Mujin – Chou City, Japan
● JAKA Robotics – Shanghai, China.
The way ahead
Robotics has the potential in driving innovation, competitiveness, and sustainability across the manufacturing industry. It has a significant role to play in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), transforming their operations while paving new possibilities for growth and value creation.
References:
1. https://www.automationmag.com/the-rise-of-sme-friendly-robotics/
2. https://hbr.org/2023/11/a-new-generation-of-robots-can-help-small-manufacturers
3. https://www.kuka.com/en-in/future-production/industrial-automation/automation-for-small-and-medium-sized-enterprises
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