How does Automation Affect Productivity?

Improved productivity is the golden ticket that every business hopes to win!

golden-ticketIf this can be achieved while also reducing costs then this perfect combination will only lead to improvements across the business as a whole. The main purpose of automation is to meet these two crucial factors which is why the use of technology is becoming so common place right across the supply chain. Productivity is crucial to gaining a sustainable advantage over competitors and increasing a foothold in the market. Meeting those targets is an analysis that needs constant attention, and the implementation of the smallest of changes can have a hugely beneficial effect. We’ve listed a small number of productivity benefits that can be gained from the introduction of automation into your manufacturing process.

 

Less Manual Delays

With less interruptions in production flow, the benefits here are easy to understand. Manual quality assurance checks are no longer required if an automated equivalent is installed, increasing the hourly throughput. This also applies to faults that occur during manual production processes. Human error results in the loss of significant response time when assessing and repairing the problem. In-built technology within an automated system such as vision inspection can perform on-going checks and balances, and if production is forced to halt, the downtime is far shorter.

 

Optimal Machine Efficiency  

Rather than spread elements of the production process across multiple machines or devices, automation allows one machine to perform an array of different tasks. Without the need to transfer product parts from one machine to another and with more accuracy gained, a larger number of units can be produced within the same period. Bespoke automation allows each machine to be designed and built to match the specific demands of the manufacturing process it is being installed into.

 

Manual Productivity

Not every part of the business can be automated and the growing fear over its impact on job stability is one of the main concerns in the workforce. However, increased use of automation does not have to result in a reduction of the human work force. Rather than placing staff on boring, repetitive tasks – which often leads to injuries and interruptions in production – re-positioning them onto jobs that utilise their skills will enhance their experience and improve productivity in other areas of the business. Improving productivity does not just mean directly within production, but also how this naturally filters through and impacts other connected areas of the business.

 

Manufacturing Data

Valuable information about the production process can be retained through the use of automation ensuring that knowledge typically lost during a manual process is instead stored for analysis. This is essential to further improving the use of the automated machines that are currently in use. Data logging systems allow this to be shared across the business, especially within the early design stage. The connection between these two business functions allows product designers to understand where changes can be made to find extra productivity in production once the product is ready to be made.

 

Management and Supervision

Similar to how workers can be moved away from repetitive tasks into areas that reflect and encourage skill development, there is a positive effect felt with the management staff. Rather than spending more time micro-managing, automation allows managers to be more creative with their resources. Of course, they will always be available to step in where required, but with more concentration focused in other areas of the business, they too can utilise their experience and skill more wisely. Management are typically in possession of years of experience, and being able to implement this within the company on a more widespread basis will only prove to be hugely beneficial.

 

Introducing New Products

The introduction of a new line of products opens the door to increased commercial possibilities but also creates new manufacturing problems to be solved. More often than not, new items are combined with existing products on the same line. Using traditional manufacturing methods this naturally slows down production due to increased changeover time, lowering the overall effectiveness of the machine. Automation, through the use of integrated robotics, can provide the ideal solution. Improved end-of-arm tooling can help maintain and improve the speed of production that existed before the implementation of the new products.

 

Conclusion

This is only a brief insight into how productivity can be improved through the addition of automation. Improved efficiency and significant cost savings will also be felt once the technology has integrated fully into the operational set-up. From production, to employees and ultimately the consumer, automation encourages a far more productive manufacturing process when compared to manual production lines.

Every manufacturing and production facility faces individual challenges that are unique to their business and market. We have worked with companies of all sizes to find sustainable solutions that can be implemented in real-time.

If you are looking for ways to increase productivity within your business, you can contact one of our sales team who can talk through the robotic palletising systems available available to you. Simply email our helpline helpline@granta-automation.co.uk, or call us on 01223 499488.

Why not use our productivity calculators to calculate the productivity of your production process and see where productivity could be improved? 2 Ways to Measure the Productivity, Effectiveness or Efficiency of your Machinery or Factory

 

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Why is the UK Government so Interested in Automation?

Why-is-the-government-so-interested-in-automation

As Brexit talks slowly edge towards deeper and more complex negotiations, the process has highlighted a range of issues across a number of industries that may otherwise have remained untouched. Production investment in the UK has been an ongoing cause for concern as lack of improvement in post war productivity becomes more highlighted than ever. Industry planning outside of the EU will require considerable organisation and investment and automation will remain central in the new manufacturing landscape.

 

The current status in the UK

Five years ago the UK, which at the time was the 7th largest economy in the world, held a worldwide ranking of 19th in terms of robot density within the manufacturing sector. According to a report by the Centre for Economics and Business Research, in 2015 the UK were behind countries such as the US, Germany, Japan and South Korea. For every 10,000 employees working in general industry, in the UK there were only 33 robots in use. In addition to this, there were only 10 robots per million hours worked. When you compare this to 133 for Germany, 167 for Japan and 131 in the US, we can see there is still some work to do.

Automation is a key global industry that will prove pivotal to the sustained growth of future economies, and these figures suggest the UK has some ground to recover. The restructuring of the manufacturing sector that occurred throughout the 70s and 80s meant that many began to see the industry as outdated and secondary to the importance of the newly deregulated financial institutions and markets. In the decade between 2005 and 2015, it is worth noting that productivity in the manufacturing sector grew three times faster than the entire UK economy. The sector is currently responsible for 45% of all UK exports which see us positioned as the 9th largest industrial nation in the world. With technology becoming more accessible and cost effective, the fourth industrial revolution is moving at a rapid pace, and the Government is keen to see the UK working on the cusp of these developments.

 

The government’s plans

At the start of this year, the government unveiled its Industrial Strategy. This outlined a plan to invest £2 billion per year by 2020 for new research and development in the tech sector. Only last week Prime Minister Theresa May announced additional funding of £17.3 million for research and development into AI in universities. These ambitious plans aim to place the UK at the centre of the next tech-driven industrial age, in an attempt to recover the shortcomings that have occurred over the past few decades.

Smart manufacturing and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIot) will build upon the work that automation has already forged over the past decade and a half. By focusing on the possibilities that automation allows, it presents the opportunity to push the boundaries of technological innovation so vital to growing the UK economy in a post-Brexit world. Robotics and integrated automation is set to revolutionise the entire supply chain. For example, when you consider that approximately 80% of warehouses still rely on manual processes, you can see the environment is ripe for development.

 

What the future holds in store

With augmented and virtual reality technology becoming far more accessible, the next generation of automated tools will provide a more interconnected landscape. This will find use in areas such as plant maintenance, predictive maintenance, virtual reality tools and processes and, of course, the continued implantation of robotics using this technology along with advanced AI.

Now is the ideal time for government and businesses to build a coherent strategy that will position the UK as a leader in the field of technological innovation. Both are aware that manufacturing will remain at the forefront of these changes and blueprints for regulatory reforms, as well as skills training, will need to be identified and clearly structured.

The good news is that many companies are planning to solidly invest in automation over the next two years. The annual EEF/Santander Annual Investment Monitor survey surveyed 328 businesses in August and over 51% stated they intended to increase their spend in this area. What the results also reveal is that this is mostly to satisfy current demand and capacity, rather than to improve productivity and increase production. Understandably, many companies are in a state of flux due to the uncertainty produced by our planned exit from the EU. This makes the need for an industrial strategy to be delivered by the government more urgent than ever.

 

 

As a market leader in automation, Granta will be a key player in the changing face of manufacturing over the next few years and beyond. For manufacturers uncertain of what Brexit holds in store, the opportunities that automation offers right now can add significant benefits to your business, providing a crucial competitive edge.

Our sales team are also able to answer any further questions you might have and they can be reached on 01223 499488 or by email helpline@granta-automation.co.uk.

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What Is The Difference Between Automation And Robotics?

Automation-or-Robotics--

This is a question that is regularly asked by those looking to introduce some form of automation into their production process.

The answer to this question is ‘robotics is a form of automation, so there is no difference.’ But then the question becomes; do I need robotics or do I need some other form of automation?

Let’s look at the different applications…

 

Robotics

Robotics consists of a branch of technology that predominantly deals with the design, construction and operation of robots. An industrial robot is typically a standard machine controlled by an internal or external computer that is able to carry out a complex series of movements automatically. There are a wide range of robots available; from basic robot arms through to completely autonomous vehicle mounted robots.  Robots are often equipped with audio, visual and tactile sensors.  Whilst a standard robot usually follows a pre-determined program, collaborative robots have force sensing built in and as a result are able to follow a person’s movements and work collaboratively with them.

Robots today perform a variety of jobs within factories such as:

  • Palletising
  • Parts assembly
  • Painting
  • Welding
  • Machine tool tending
  • Material handling
  • Pick and place
  • CNC milling

Robots are also often used to substitute humans in dangerous environments including hazardous areas environments, high temperature environments, radioactive environments and areas where there are harmful vapours and gasses.

The main advantage of robots is their adaptability and flexibility.  They are also a known component when designing an automated system with mixed products/requirements. They can also be a very cheap way to automate multiple tasks with a lot of variables that would otherwise need a very specialist bespoke automated system.

 

Automation

There are two main types of automation; software automation and industrial automation.  Software automation performs computer based tasks that would otherwise be performed by a human, whereas industrial automation performs physical activities that would otherwise be done by a human.

Bespoke automation is the term typically used where there is a stable and predictable production processes that needs specialist automation designed specifically to perform that process.

Processes where bespoke automation is often used includes;

  • Quality control inspection
  • Liquid filling
  • Parts sorting
  • Box erection and sealing
  • Box filling
  • Repetitive tasks with few variables
  • Production monitoring
  • Product and carton labelling
  • Safety improvements

The main advantage of bespoke automation is that it can be tailored exactly to a process in the most efficient way. This can often result in faster production speeds, and more effective solutions for repeat tasks with little variation in products or requirements.

 

Robotics or Bespoke Automation – Which do I need?

Now you understand more about robotics and automation, but you may still be wondering which you need! Maybe you need both? This depends entirely on the process you are wishing to automate. Robotics or bespoke automation may be used, but as they are both developed in different ways, it may often be necessary to use both to enable the optimum automation solution to be created.

To summarise, the main difference between robotics and automation is that robots are a piece of equipment that can perform a variety of tasks with programming, whilst bespoke automation is a term that is used for special purpose machines or systems that are designed to perform a specific task.

But in short Robotics are just one of many methods of Automation!

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3 Ways To Reduce Manufacturing Costs

3-Ways-to-reduce-manufacturing-costs

If you’re a Factory or Manufacturing Manager, then you will know just how important it is to Reduce Manufacturing Costs to enable you to Boost the Profitability of Your Company.

You will no doubt be very familiar with the usual methods of reducing manufacturing costs such as;

  • Buying cheaper to reduce raw material costs
  • Making cuts to lower overhead expenses
  • Increasing efficiency in your production process to increase throughput

Whilst these are all good starting points for reducing your manufacturing costs, there are also other, perhaps more hidden ways that costs can be reduced.  One of these methods is investment in the right type of automation.

Below, we’ve explored three different ways that automation can be used to reduce manufacturing costs.

 

  1. Bespoke Automation

The problem often experienced by manufactures is that standard machinery doesn’t always meet their specific requirements.  Standard machinery often only performs some, not all of the tasks needed, resulting in multiple machines having to be used. This then increases the production time required and manufacturing costs as parts have to be transferred between machines for different processes.

This is where bespoke automation can be used to reduce your manufacturing costs.  A bespoke automation solution that is tailor made to suit your requirements can be designed to perform multiple functions with one machine. Bespoke machinery therefore reduces the need to transfer parts between machines, improves production speeds and reduces wasted time and costs.
 

  1. Production Monitoring and Data Logging Systems

Production monitoring and data logging systems are rapidly becoming recognised around the world for their vast benefits, such as:

  • Reduced downtime – downtime can have a negative effect on your productivity and therefore your manufacturing costs. By having instant fault reporting from production monitoring you decrease your downtime, ensuring your factory is working efficiently all of the time.
  • Accurate efficiency monitoring – Decreased efficiency leads to lower production levels and higher costs. By keeping a close eye on your factory’s efficiency, you can quickly see areas within your production process that are bottlenecks and not producing as efficiently as they should be. This then enables you to make the necessary changes to your process to increase efficiency and thereby reduce costs.
  • Increased accuracy/repeatability of products – this is essential for busy manufacturing businesses who are looking to produce large amounts of identical products. Less defects means less quality control issues which in turn reduces manufacturing costs.

By keeping your manufacturing processes efficient and accurate, you can lower your production costs whilst boosting productivity. The data provided by production monitoring and data logging systems gives you the necessary information to enable you as a manager to improve the performance of your factory.  By making improvements, you are then able to drive further growth.

 

  1. Vision and Inspection Systems

Vision and inspection systems are part of an ever-evolving technology. Tasks that were once impossible to automate can now be highly automated. Not only that, but production speeds can be dramatically increased.  Vision inspection systems are able to quality check products at high speeds which means that there is no need to stop your production process to carry out quality control checks.  This then increases throughput and reduces manufacturing costs.  Some other key benefits of vision inspection systems are:

  • They are a very cost-effective way of implementing quality assurance and control
  • They are able to work at very high speeds and with stringent accuracy requirements
  • Vision inspection is a very simple way to boost the competitive edge of your company to drive further growth

 

Whilst these are the three more common ways automation can be used to reduce your manufacturing costs, it is by no means limited to this.  Automation enables you to remove the ‘hidden’ manufacturing costs such as product recalls, idle machine time, high labour costs, and wasted time in product transfers.  As production processes are so varied there may be other types of automation that are more appropriate to you. Robotic palletising is also another way of reducing your manufacturing costs.

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What Impact Does Automation Have On The Working Environment?

What-impact-does-automation-have-on-the-working-environmentWith some of the first forms of automation going back a few hundred years now, we’ve seen technology and automation evolve and change the way people work for decades. Think back to the days of scythes; we now think nothing of Combines, but where would we be if we were still reaping with scythes?  What will the future method be for harvesting crops?  No one knows…

We’ve recently exposed some of the advantages and disadvantages of industrial automation, to help people considering automation for their production processes decide whether it is right for their business or not. Today we are pondering the impact that automation has had in recent years on the working environment and what the future might hold in this area.

 

Creates a Safer Working Environment

One of the most prominent effects of automation in recent times has been its ability to complete tasks that are potentially dangerous for humans and thus create a safer working environment.

For example, hazardous area robots can now be used in problematic areas such as high temperature environments, radioactive environments and other potentially dangerous environments. Therefore reducing the need for humans to enter these hazardous areas and reducing the risk of injury.

Automation of labour intensive, repetitive, manual tasks has been used to eliminate the risk of repetitive strain injury as humans are no longer needed to perform such tasks. Thereby creating a safer working environment.

Boosts Productivity and Efficiency

Another well-known impact of automation on the working environment is the fact that it boosts productivity and efficiency, thus raising staff morale at the same time as increasing profits.

Productivity is boosted by automation as it increases efficiency, enables greater repeatability, improves product quality and allows for faster, more reliable production speeds.  There are many different automation systems that can be used to increase productivity and efficiency such as robotic automation, production monitoring and datalogging systems, bespoke automation solutions and the use of automation to streamline your production process.  How these automation systems effect productivity are outlined in detail in our blog on How to Increase Productivity in Your Factory with Automation. You can also use our downloadable calculators to find out how efficient your current process is.

Improves Staff Motivation

There are many different ways that automation impacts on staff motivation. It can often be frustrating for workers to conduct repetitive tasks using outdated machinery and technologies.  This then has a negative impact on their morale and motivation.  Using automation to upgrade your factory not only helps boost productivity and efficiency significantly, but it’s also a smart way of improving working conditions and creating new, more stimulating roles within your factory. Therefore by introducing automation to do the repetitive tasks within your factory, and moving staff to more challenging job roles, staff become motivated as they feel they are now working in a modern, up to date, 21st century environment.

Production monitoring and datalogging systems also have a large impact on staff motivation as they create a culture of continuous improvement. This, in turn, encourages your staff to always strive for improved performance and makes them feel like they’re contributing to making a difference within the entire company. As we all know, motivated staff results in better productivity which in turn influences the culture of your business and results in an increase to your bottom line.

To Conclude

Despite some people’s fear that the introduction of automation results in higher unemployment rates, research has proved that this doesn’t have to be the case.  After all, unemployment is currently at the lowest it’s been for years.

Whilst it’s true that there are some jobs that may become redundant, as automation technologies are implemented, there is still always the need for people to manage the complete production processes.  As your business grows due to better production, there will always be the need for more people in order to support that growth.

Automation, when implemented correctly actually has a positive impact on the working environment and we’ve even seen instances amongst our clients where implementing automation has been critical not only to help them grow their business, but it has actually meant that their business could stay in the market where it would otherwise have been at a competitive disadvantage. Read our blog ‘Does Automation Really Wreck People’s Lives and Cause Unemployment?’ for more details.

From the research we have done, we believe that automation is a key way that factories will be able to improve the working environment, and enable the UK to increase productivity and become the Innovation Powerhouse it needs to be.

To learn more about automated palletising and the different types available, get in touch with the Granta Automation team of experts on helpline@granta-automation.co.uk or by calling 01223 499 488.

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Two Types of Automation That Improve Machine Throughput

Automation-to-increase-machine-throughput

Are you looking for innovative ways to improve the throughput of the machines in your factory to enable you to meet your deadlines and achieve your business goals?

If you answered yes, then read on for two of the best ways to boost your machine throughput and increase productivity, staff motivation and factory efficiency using automation.

There can be many factors affecting machine throughput, and listed below are just a few of them;

  • Machine is not able to run at full speed as there is not the capacity to remove the finished product from the machine at this speed.
  • Workers take breaks leaving the machine idle.
  • Some parts produced by the machine are defective.
  • Machine stops due to a fault and no-one notices.
  • There are bottlenecks within the process but you’re unable to identify exactly what is causing the bottleneck.
  • Machine cannot be run 24/7 as it would need human input and this would cost too much.

All of these problems and more can be overcome by automation.  Two of the most commonly used types of automation for improving machine throughput are outlined below.

 

  1. Robotic Machine Tending and Assembly

To enable a machine to run at full capacity it is very important to have a system in place that can load and unload the machine as quickly as the machine can run. A robotic machine tending and assembly system is a fantastic way to do this as it enables your machine to run with very little human interaction. Parts can be automatically loaded and/or unloaded from the machine, assembled, palletised and wrapped. As the system is bespoke it can be fully configured to meet your exact requirements and will also be designed to seamlessly integrate into your factory layout.

Robotic machine tending and assembly systems can be designed to include many features such as:

  • Robots – these load/unload parts in and out of your machine and assemble them before stacking them onto pallets.
  • Vision systems – these check the quality of the finished product and allow the robot to reject any faulty parts.
  • Touch screen control systems – alert you to plant stoppages and enable you to monitor your machine throughput remotely.
  • Pallet feeder – this feeds the pallets into the palletising system automatically.
  • Stretch wrapper – this automatically stretch wraps the pallets.
  • Conveyor – when the pallets are finished, they are automatically fed out of the system via a conveyor.

 

  1. Downtime and Efficiency Tracking

Another essential step towards improving machine throughput is implementing downtime and efficiency tracking systems. This is guaranteed to keep you on top of plant stoppage and factory downtime. With systems such as these in place, you can keep your machines running for as many hours as possible, ultimately boosting productivity for your business. With downtime and efficiency tracking, you can:

  • Identify bottlenecks in your process and potential areas for improvement.
  • Log in remotely at any time to check up on your machinery and identify faults.
  • Improve the accuracy of your products.
  • Receive accurate production forecasts.
  • Use the data collected to calculate OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness).
  • Run staff bonus schemes from the results.
  • Display the results on a dashboard to incentivise staff.

 

With these systems in place, you can improve the machine throughput for your factory, and ultimately enjoy optimum levels of production and efficiency.

If you need more guidance on ways to improve your machine throughput, feel free to reach out to a member of our team. You can contact us via phone on 01223 499 488 or email helpline@granta-automation.co.uk and we’ll be more than happy to answer all your questions.

Don’t forget to check out our online project builder which you can use to create an automated palletising quote in just a few minutes!

 

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OEE Calculator Download

To make it easier for you to calculate the OEE of your machinery or process we’ve created a downloadable OEE Calculator.  All you need to do is click here to download the calculator and then start analysing your process.

OEE-Calculator

 

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Basic Productivity Calculator Download

 

To make it easier for you to calculate productivity in your factory or process we’ve created a downloadable Basic Productivity Calculator.  All you need to do is click here to download the calculator and then start analysing your process.

Basic-Productivity-Calculator

 

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Automation

If you’re considering introducing automation into your production process, then you should consider both the advantages and disadvantages of automation, before making a decision. Read our blog to find out more about the pros and cons of industrial automation.

 

Advantages of Automation

 

  1. Improved working environment

With the use of automation it is possible to improve the working conditions and safety within your production process or plant.  Automation can reduce health and safety risks, eliminate manual handling and reduce the risk of repetitive strain injury.

 

  1. Increased competitiveness, sales and profit

Automation enables to you to become more competitive in your market.  This is because as your production process is more automated, human error is reduced, product quality become more consistent, and cost per part goes down due to increased production speeds and the reduction in resources required to produce the goods.

 

  1. No labour crisis

Finding labour for mundane, repetitive tasks is becoming more and more difficult, and is likely to become more difficult in the UK after Brexit.  Unemployment in the UK is currently at the lowest it’s ever been since July 1975, so many factories are struggling to find factory workers, especially for heavy manual work. Automation can eliminate the need for staff to perform these types of tasks.

 

  1. Increase production capacity

Automation increases your production capacity as machines can be set to work 24/7 unmanned.  Automated machines do not have breaks, sick leave or holidays, and therefore even if they are only running during normal shift hours, this alone can often lead to a production increase of 140%+. Automated machinery can also typically run faster and produce more accurately made products with fewer defects.

 

  1. Compliance consistency

Automated manufacturing is inherently more consistent and accurate in production quality. In order to meet market demands these days, product quality has to be better and more consistent than ever before, often the only way to achieve this is with automation. Automated inspection systems can be installed at the end of a manual or automated production process using sensors and vision systems to automatically check products for defects and compliance with specification.  This enables faulty products to be rejected, eliminating defects and costly product recalls.

 

  1. Increased factory productivity or OEE

With all the benefits of automation in the points above your process becomes more streamlined and efficient with lower running costs and faster production speeds, and better quality production. This dramatically improves your factory productivity. For some real life examples read our testimonials page.

 

Disadvantages of Automation

 

  1. Capital expenditure

Whilst automation can prove highly effective and bring you a positive ROI, it may also require a fairly high capital cost. That’s why, before making a decision we recommend considering both the investment needed and also the ROI you expect to achieve. When calculating the ROI it is important to include increased throughput value, reduced labour costs and the reduction in defects/recalls along with the capital expenditure before deciding whether or not there is a business case for investment. With the help of an automation project calculator you will be able to calculate your estimate payback and view finance estimates.

 

  1. Gets rid of jobs

It is true that with the introduction of automation there are some jobs that may become redundant, but this does not necessarily have to be a negative implication of automation. Instead of staff performing mind-numbing, monotonous or unpleasant tasks, they can be trained to transfer to working in other areas of your business.  Many companies have found that after installation of automation they have seen sales rise, thus creating more jobs in different parts of their business.

 

  1. Bespoke automation becomes redundant when production processes change

As with any type of machinery, if you change your production process or product you are manufacturing so that a particular machine is no longer part of the process then the machine becomes redundant.  Therefore it is very important to future proof any automation you install into your production process. A skilled automation company will design your automation system to enable it to be easily adapted to suit changes in your product design or production process. For example; by using standard flexible automation such as robots, these can be easily used somewhere else in a manufacturing process even if the existing process becomes redundant.

 

Conclusion

The advantages of automation often outweigh the disadvantages but every case needs careful consideration to ensure that the right decision is made. There will sometimes be situations where automation does not justify itself. Equally if you don’t automate and stay as you are without carefully assessing the benefits of automation you could be missing out on some significant advantages.

 

We hope this blog has given you some insight into the aspects you should consider before introducing automation into your company. However, if you need any more guidance or you’d like to find out more about the benefits of robotic palletising systems and how they could be applied in your production process then please don’t hesitate to contact our team of automation experts who are always happy to help. Give us a call on 01223 499488 or email helpline@granta-automation.co.uk.

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What Type Of Automation Should I Choose To Increase Factory Staff Motivation?

What-Type-Of-Automation-Should-I-Choose-To-Increase-Factory-Staff-Motivation

The fact that automation is one of the ways you can incentivise and motivate factory staff is no longer a secret. But with so many different types of automation available today, it might seem like a daunting task choosing the best type of automation to help you achieve optimal results, not only when it comes to increasing your staff’s motivation, but also to boosting overall productivity and efficiency. Worry not! The Granta team are here to help. We’ve prepared a useful guide below that can help make this decision easier.

 

  1. Automated Dashboards and Scoreboards

An automated dashboard or scoreboard is a screen that is mounted in your factory or office, visible to all staff, showing live data relating to KPIs, bonuses or any other appropriate information that is going to motivate your staff.

Automated dashboards and scoreboards are by far one of the most effective ways of motivating your factory staff, by encouraging a healthy kind of competition amongst different teams. It can also turn abstract figures into a visual incentive that can demonstrate how all their hard work is paying off by reaching and even surpassing certain targets. Using dashboards and scoreboards to display relevant KPIs and targets can also become a useful reminder for everyone as to what they’re working towards and can add a sense of purpose to their work.

 

  1. Production Monitoring and Datalogging Systems

Production monitoring and datalogging systems consist of inputs throughout your production process, which can be in the form of sensors, detectors, encoders or HMIs, where data is automatically or manually input into the system.  This data can then be used to help identify areas within your production that require improvement; such as bottlenecks, reliability issues and product defects.

Whilst production monitoring and datalogging systems primarily help to boost your factory’s production efficiency, they can also be used as a great way to motivate your staff by creating a culture of continuous improvement. This, in turn, can encourage your staff to always strive for improved performance and feel like they’re contributing to making a difference within the entire company. Production monitoring and datalogging systems can also create a perpetual awareness of problem areas and help people focus on improving processes.  It is also important to appropriately reward any innovations or significant improvements that your staff perform, in order to sustain this type of culture.

 

  1. Downtime and Efficiency Tracking

Downtime and efficiency tracking systems monitor your plant 24/7, giving instant notification of plant stoppages and downtime.  With the more advanced downtime and efficiency tracking systems it is possible to log in remotely to your plant to see exactly where the faults are and what needs to be done to rectify them.  When used with a production monitoring and datalogging system, it is also possible to use this data to calculate OEE (overall equipment effectiveness).

By investing in downtime and efficiency tracking systems, you can give your staff the tools they need to work faster and smarter and create improvements in working conditions, which is another factor that plays an important part when it comes to staff motivation. You can also use this kind of technology to assess performance and then make executive decisions based on that.

 

  1. Automated Palletising

Autoamted palletising solutions enable you to reduce downtime and remove the risk of RSI occuring.

Installing and automated palletising solution can help transform working conditions and improve your production throughput. From standard pick and place palletising of bags or boxes through to high speed layer forming palletising, the Granta GA15 palletising system is a very versatile and flexible option for all your palletising requirements. Automated container unloading and palletising is also made possible thanks to the quick and easy programming software.

 

These are just some of the main types of automation that can help you increase factory staff motivation. If you’d like more information about the Granta GA15 palletising system and how we can help you achieve with automation, get in touch today on 01223 499 488 or use our unique project builder to get a quote online in just a few minutes!

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