Simply put, automation is the process of turning manual tasks into tasks that can be performed by robots and other custom industrial machinery. Integrating automation with your current manufacturing process can be a challenging yet rewarding investment.
As one of Massachusetts’s top custom machine builders, we’ve assisted companies in adopting industrial automation to improve productivity, quality, and workplace safety in the long-term.
This post offers some basic tips on how to get started with industrial automation.
Consider How Employees Will Be Affected By Automation
It’s likely you will be able to easily adopt industrial automation systems with careful planning, depending on the size and complexity of your operations. Once you’ve made the decisions to use automation, you’ll need to anticipate how the changes will affect you, employees, and customers. First you have to think about the workers who will be directly affected by the changes on the factory floor; beyond that, you must also consider how it will indirectly impact different groups of people. From our experience, the most successful companies put effort into fully understanding how automation will impact their operations before implementing change.
Understand There Will Be Ongoing Management
Implementing industrial automation is a complex process. It’s not uncommon for people to assume that automation is the answer to all of their problems, without considering how they’ll need to plan for ongoing training, management, observation, and opportunities for improvement.
Though automation will help you save money in the long term, it’s critical that you look at it as an investment in your company. Once you have adopted automation solutions, you’ll need to ensure your employees understand how it affects day-to-day operations. Many successful companies claim that their employees are their most valuable assets, which is why it’s crucial your team has all the information and training necessary to adopt automation technology.
Tout Automation’s Advantages to Workers
It’s common knowledge that peopler are resistant to change when they can’t clearly see the immediate benefit. Thankfully, you have an opportunity during the planning phase to get your team used to the idea of incorporating industrial automation. In recent years, people are especially worried about losing their jobs to robots and other forms of industrial machinery. Yet, you’ll experience less resistance if you discuss how automation will inevitably improve workplace safety and make their jobs easier.
For instance, whenever employees operate heavy industrial machinery, there is always an inherent risk for personal injury. Consider this: an unbalanced load can be enough to tip over a forklift, injure workers or even damage a facility. By shifting more responsibility to industrial automation systems, you can lower the risk of worker injury and create a safe workplace.
Establish Rewards for Adopting New Technology
Let’s face it, employees are more accepting of change when there are incentives or recognition programs in place. Be sure that your employees understand how automation is a natural step to fully achieve your company’s mission.
Mitchell Machine is a custom machine builder in Springfield, Massachusetts. To request a quote for automation or any of our other myriad manufacturing solutions, call (413) 749-5869.
Mitchell Machine | Automation Application Review
We enjoy new manufacturing challenges and offer confidential, technical and budgetary reviews of your planned automation projects. Please contact our application engineers to discuss specifics of your products and processes today.
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