One of the most significant developments within automation in recent years must surely be the adoption of AMRs within factories and assembly plants. These easy to implement internal transport devices can take over time consuming and tiring transport jobs within plants allowing staff to concentrate on more productive roles.
Manufacturing is constantly changing. New products continue to enter the market all the time and they are increasingly made using automation. Many manufacturers are selling direct to consumer adding further responsibility to warehouse operations that also feed production lines, often on a just-in-time basis, to achieve the goal of maximum production efficiency.
Changes to the market can come at any time and manufacturers need the flexibility to adapt. Sometimes these changes can be seismic – such as the automotive sector’s shift from internal combustion engine cars to electric vehicles. Manufacturing continues to spread around the world, with many markets outsourcing to countries where production comes with lower costs, while developing countries increase their own consumer spending. However recent turbulence in supply chains is driving a move to near shoring as manufacturers seek to mitigate supply chain risk and secure domestic markets. Doing so while keeping costs competitive however means finding new ways to become more efficient in manufacturing.
Manufacturers seeking to ensure their staff remain where they are most productive with factory operations, should look further into the possibilities of cooperating with mobile robots to provide a more productive, cost effective, efficient operation and agile production environment.
