Moving from manual production or semi-automatic to fully automated systems is a goal for many companies. Automated systems offer several benefits including efficiency, higher productivity and fewer issues with product quality control.
However, failing to adequately plan for manufacturing automation systems before starting the project is often a result of an overlooked or hurried process. This will result in longer downtime, delays in completing the project and a greater risk of problems during the process.
To help prevent these issues when upgrading manufacturing automation systems, working with professionals with extensive experience in the manufacturing sector will be a critical partnership. When these professionals are involved oversights and omissions in the plan will be quickly detected, analyzed and correctly, ensuring all aspects of the conversion to automation are considered and accounted for.
Understand the Objectives
Before the planning even starts for the transfer to automation, it is critical to understand the goals and objectives behind the change. Understand what the targets are for productivity, time, quality control or other factors.
Once these are developed, it is easier for manufacturing automation systems to be designed to achieve these objectives. Simply automating without goals will result in ineffective decision or choices that may or may not have a positive result.
Know Each Process
The key to moving to automation is to understand how automation will work on a granular level not just on the macro level. Understanding how to break down the project into individual, definable steps will be critical as part of the planning process.
Everything from how to minimize downtime for the business to how to train people for the new tasks they will need to be responsible for needs to be considered as part of the planning process. When these details are finalized, and in place, before the automation starts it is a smoother, more efficient process for all involved.
