top reasons to purchase automation equipment for your factory
TRANSCRIPT
Automated equipment is a big investment, and you should think deeply before making a
purchasing decision. Understandably, the perfect automation machine is one capable of
fulfilling inhouse goals, optimizing the workplace, handling controls precisely and being
adaptable.
To achieve great quality, you need to make great decisions. Value, of course, is quite
obvious when longterm benefits are prioritized. That said, beware of initial costs ,
because not every installation guarantees an investment return. To determine the right
purchasing decision, you’ll need to outline your entire decisionmaking process based
upon obsolescence and the formulation of advanced frameworks.
Check out the guide below, and examine the framework proposed by the Total Cost of
Acquisition and Total Cost of Ownership standards. By comparing both, you’ll be able to
secure automation system security while empowering your workplace’s future.
First, Figure Out Your Equipment’s Return on Investment Initial outlay costs should be heavily considered. For this reason, a lot of
budgetconscious companies have used decadelong industrial machine designs. Often,
ongoing operational saving costs should be prioritized. While an initial purchasing cost
is of course important, constant expenses should take the forefront of your decision
making process. Overall, you should consider the following cost areas:
Training Costs Your crew will need to be outfitted, educationally, to handle safety procedures.
Additionally, they’ll need to be wellarmed with knowledge to handle an everadapting
workplace.
Competitive Growth Investment
To compete on a large scale, you’ll need to invest large sums of money. Growth costs
exist, and they should be considered well before a decision is made. Figure out how
your machinery will compete in new markets, new product lines and against new
competition.
Operational Costs
Your operational costs, of course, will be your biggest concern. Industrial automation
installations can run on approximately 75 cents per hour. When handling your return on
investment needs, examine your operational costs honestly. Similarly, attempt to reduce
labor costs if at all possible.
EaseofUse and Optimization
Often, an industrial installation’s sheer usage is a cost. Because of this, easeofuse
should absolutely be considered. Time, as they say, is money. If your installation
requires specialized programming skills to maintain, it might be costly.
Figure Out the Benefits Next, you should find out why you’re investing in automation equipment. If you’re
making the case to spend money, it’d better be a good one. Read case studies that are
relevant to your project needs, and write down any costrelated benefits of prolonged
use.
Your purchase, overall, will need to solve a business problem . Such problems include
safety hazards, lost time, lost money and lost competitiveness. While not every cost can
be quantified in money, much of automated manufacturing surrounds one simple thing:
making the workplace better. To determine how much your equipment will cost, you
need to determine its overall value—and over many years.
Talk to Your Company’s Decision Makers Automated machinery covers several positions, and individuals maintaining different
roles will be impacted by your decision to automate, upgrade and maintain new
practices. Discuss options with these individuals, and include them in the company’s
overarching financial decision making process.
Additionally, show your decision makers the bigger picture surrounding integration. If
you’re aiming for higher inhouse optimization, productivity and flexibility, then discuss
the dynamics of why a high capital investment is needed. Similarly, outline the various
areas your team will need intensive involvement in.
Make a Final Decision Once you’ve compared benefits, detriments, expenses and future options, you’ll need to
make a decision with your company’s other decision makers. A lot of automated
manufacturing investments save more money than traditional manufacturing routes.
That said, today’s machines are smarter, stronger and more flexible than ever before.
Features like autotuning, for example, have made energysaving functions more
accessible than ever before. Similarly, innovative interfaces have made maintenance
quite easy to achieve.
When making a final decision, take one last look at the multiple benefits derived from
robotic integration. A valuable, flexible automated installation can be reprogrammed
multiple times, fit niche rolls, handle multiple tasks at once and offer a rapid return on
investment. At the end of the day, an industrial machine should be purchased to
manufacture, deliver and use highquality parts for many, many years. If you can secure
consistent low operating costs, you’ll be able to overcome your initial investment.
Looking Into the Future: Monitoring Success Because the world of automated machines is everexpanding, you’ll need to monitor
your installation’s energy uses while addressing different costs. During changes, it’ll be
important to understand the investments involved with moving highenergy operations to
different shifts, achieving better utility rates and outfitting your installation for future
objectives one step at a time.
In most cases, your management team will be able to monitor a variety of these factors.
They should, too, as followup investment monitoring is critical to success. Industrial
robots, alongside other automated equipment installations, must absolutely be
considered to be longterm investments. While shortterm benefits are certainly positive,
they shouldn’t be acquired in exchange for longterm production improvement, control
and flexibility. Above all, your company’s profitability should be prioritized in the
longhaul decision making process.
Sources: http://www.a3automate.org/4waystomakethecasetobuyautomatedequipment/
http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/small/ABo/Automation.html
http://www.vorne.com/solutions/increasemanufacturingproductioncapacity.htm
http://www.setpointusa.com/customautomation/leanautomation.html