Most people have shied away from taking advantage of automation because of the drawbacks of traditional robotic automation systems. These traditional systems normally require a significant allocation of capital and time. This is because of the money, space and time needed to purchase, install and program the systems. Furthermore, for these systems to work, employees have to undergo extensive training programs that can be overwhelming.
The invention of advanced collaborative robots has settled most of these fears. As a result, companies can enjoy all the benefits of advanced robotic automation without having to worry about the drawbacks of traditional automated systems. These systems are affordable, take less space and require almost no specialized skill to use.
Here are some of the ways collaborative robots can help to increase productivity in your company.
1. No downtime
Human beings naturally need to take a break when they are working. They need to take lunch breaks and intermittent breaks when they need to visit washrooms or even socialize. Laws in many countries also limit the number of hours that an employee can work.
On the other hand, collaborative robots don’t. They are machines that don’t suffer from fatigue. They are also not subject to labor laws that limit working hours. This means that they can work nonstop. As a result, your company’s output will increase.
2. Reduced error risks
Repetitive tasks are boring. This is especially so in cases where these tasks don’t engage an employee. As a result, most employees tend to lose focus when they have to do repetitive tasks, something that usually causes errors.
Errors in a production run can be expensive. It can also result in missing deadlines, something that will end up leaving you with unsatisfied customers.
You can reduce the number of mistakes in your processes by simply using collaborative robots. These robots tend to have high levels of precision. And since they don’t suffer from human shortcomings like boredom, they are a perfect way to ensure an error-free operation.
3. Better human resource utilization
In any organization, there are a number of low-skill jobs. While these jobs require almost no skill to execute, they can become time-consuming. They can end up tying up a significant portion of your human resource. This can reduce the productivity of your skilled employees.
Using collaborative robots is an easy way to free up your skilled labor. You can assign the low-skill jobs to the collaborative robots. Doing this will allow your employees enough time and space to focus on higher-value activities. This will go a long way towards increasing the productivity in your company.
4. Reduced injury risks
In a busy working environment, it is not unusual for accidents to occur. A company can take steps to minimize the risks of accidents, but there is always the ever-present risk of human error. This is so especially in cases where a company’s processes involve execution of repetitive tasks.
For a company, injuries usually mean not having a portion of your workforce not working at maximum capacity. This, in addition to the fact that employee injuries can lead to expensive litigation, makes it necessary to eliminate this risk.
Advancements in the robotics industry has seen to it that most robots can handle most repetitive tasks. As a result, it is possible to significantly reduce the risks of injuries that result from human error. Given the savings in downtime, litigation and compensation that injuries pose, investing in automating company processes is prudent.
Conclusion
With advanced collaborative robots (cobots) in the market, there is no need for companies to worry about the shortcomings that are usually associated with traditional robotics set-ups.
A cobot can work alongside human beings. Once properly programmed, it also doesn’t require shielded work cells. Therefore, a company can enjoy the increased productivity that comes with deploying an automated system without having to worry about the headache of setting out extra space, capital or time.
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