Robotization is currently one of the most important elements of the development strategy of manufacturing companies. It is of great importance for increasing plant productivity and work efficiency and, consequently, strengthening market position. It is a multi-phase process, the key stages of which are the production of robots, their assembly at the customer’s site, and their commissioning. Due to the complexity of the entire undertaking, the implementation of technologically advanced machines is not an easy task. It also cannot be done too quickly, as this would entail the risk that robotization would be carried out carelessly and bring the company more losses than benefits. We explain how long the process of implementing production robots takes and what influences it.
What affects the time needed to implement a robot?
How long it will take to implement a robot in a plant depends on many factors. Therefore, it is impossible to clearly determine how long the entire project will take. As mentioned earlier, the robotization of production processes is a very complex process in which each phase directly affects the next. For this reason, if there are delays in the earlier stages, the implementation of subsequent stages will also be delayed.
Before a production robot is implemented in a plant, a number of measures must be taken to ensure its proper operation. These include:
- Analysis of production processes and customer needs and requirements – this stage includes, among other things, technical, economic, and operational analysis. It determines which processes will be robotized, what tasks the robot will perform, and how it will work. This phase also determines the financial capabilities of the company, the possibilities of integrating the machine with existing technological solutions in the plant, and the very purpose of robotization,
- The choice of technology and materials used to build a production robot – the technologies and materials used in the construction of a robot are primarily influenced by customer requirements and budget,
- Action planning – at this stage, the contractor sets the schedule for the entire project. Among other things, it determines the time needed to obtain the materials necessary to build the robot and how long it will take to build and integrate it with the systems at the plant. At this stage, it is already possible to estimate the price of the entire project more accurately,
- Robot design – the design is created based on the requirements and capabilities of the company, taking into account the selected materials and technologies, the functions to be performed by the robot in the plant, and issues of safety and compliance with legal regulations. The finished design is presented to the customer and modified if necessary,
- Construction and programming of the robot.
Only after all these stages is the robot implemented in the plant.
Implementing robots in the production robotization process – what else is worth remembering?
It should be noted that the implementation of robots does not complete the entire process of production robotization. After installation in the plant, it is also necessary to integrate it with existing production and IT systems. In addition to the physical installation of the machine, its software must be configured and communication with other devices must be ensured. Tests must also be carried out to verify the robot’s performance in practice and optimize it if necessary, so as to ensure maximum production process efficiency. Another very important aspect of implementing robots in a plant is training employees in their operation and, if necessary, changing the work culture. For this reason, the entire process of implementing advanced machines usually takes several months. Attempting to speed it up can result in glaring shortcomings, whether in the planning, design, or construction and integration phases.
At TASKO Inc., each stage of robotization is carried out with the utmost precision, taking into account the customer’s needs and requirements. We make every effort to ensure that this process is as painless as possible for the company. We also advise on which solutions will work best in the plant and present opportunities for cost optimization.