Robots present a common conundrum for small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs). On the one hand, they can help smaller operations improve efficiencies and become more competitive within their industry. But are they worth the initial investment, time, resources, and risk to implement?<\/p>\n
According to the\u00a0U.S. Census Bureau<\/a>, SMMs (manufacturing organizations with under 500 employees) make up nearly 99% of all manufacturing organizations in the United States, yet they are often the least likely to take advantage of the\u00a0potential ROI from a robotics investment<\/a>, from reducing bottlenecks and increasing production to addressing industry labor gaps and improving job satisfaction.<\/p>\n From\u00a0articulated robot arms to \u201cspider\u201d pick-and-place machines, traditional robots or\u00a0collaborative robots (also known as cobots)<\/a>\u00a0equipped with vision systems can identify part orientations and identify critical features to check for presence, identify typical flaws, or take measurements. Once a pass-fail quality check is completed, flawed parts are rejected and quality parts are delivered to final assembly or packaging. Results can also be recorded for tracking and traceability requirements.<\/p>\n ROI benefits include:<\/p>\n From avoiding OSHA fines to preventing workers\u2019 compensation claims, SMMs are well aware of the ROI of a safe, productive work environment. Robots can perform potentially dangerous or repetitive manufacturing tasks or tasks that must take place in a hazardous environment.<\/p>\n ROI benefits include:<\/p>\n Many SMMs outsource time-consuming or costly manufacturing tasks overseas due to the less expensive rent, labor, and materials. But continued changes to the operating environment could drive up prices for outsourced services and limit the availability of overseas labor. Additionally, extended delivery times from overseas suppliers can result in the manufacturer carrying high inventory levels to meet production needs.<\/p>\n Production costs can sometimes be sufficiently reduced through automation efforts when processes can be reshored and produced locally.<\/p>\n ROI benefits include:<\/p>\n If you\u2019re an SMM with high-mix, low-volume production, you may think that robotics and automation don\u2019t fit your production model and that you have to look elsewhere for ways to stay competitive. Not so fast! \u00a0Advances in robotics, particularly collaborative robots, which often don\u2019t require extensive barriers and can work right alongside your workforce, allow robotics to be more flexible than ever before. Mounting a cobot on a mobile stand can allow you to flex to different operations as your workforce and production needs require.<\/p>\n Being open to addressing your challenges through implementing technology can open doors to competitive advantage \u2014 not only from a production and quality standpoint, but also by being a technology-forward organization that can more successfully attract and retain talent.<\/p>\n ROI benefits include:<\/p>\n Thanks to recent advances in robotic software, sensors, and vision systems, robots now have the potential to deliver true ROI for even the smallest manufacturers. While there is no \u201cone size fits all\u201d robotic solution for SMMs, the potential economic payback of an automation investment is worth considering. Given these potential bottom-line advantages for SMMs, now is the time to consider the business case for integrating robots and cobots for smaller operations.<\/p>\n To learn more about how robots can benefit SMMs, download the\u00a0\u201cManufacturer\u2019s Guide to Robotics\u201d<\/a>\u00a0from\u00a0MEP National Network<\/a>\u00a0representative Catalyst Connection (part of Pennsylvania MEP), which helps SMMs navigate technological transformation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n1. Better Quality Control<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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2. A Safer Work Environment<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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3. Reshoring for More ROI<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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4. Competitive Advantage<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Determining the ROI of an Investment in Robots<\/strong><\/h2>\n