Introduction to Automation

Automation is the use of control systems and information technologies to reduce the need for human work in the production of goods and services. In the scope of industrialization, automation is a step beyond mechanization. Where as mechanization provided human operators with machinery to assist them with the muscular requirements of work, automation greatly decreases the need for human sensory and mental requirements as well.(1.)

Automation is also technique that can be used to reduce costs and improve quality. It also can increase manufacturing speed. Manufacturer should invest to automation, if tried to find manufacturing quality improvements. Usually quality improvements led to reduced costs. (2.)

The Enviroment for Automation

Automation is not magic solution to financial problems. Automation is still valuable tool that can be used to improve product quality. Producing inexpensive, high quality products is a good policy for any company.

Company should consider that automation program can force an organization to face problems. That´s why these questions might help predict those prolems:

What automation and control technology is available?
Are employees ready and willing to use new technology?
What technology should we use?
Should the current manufacturing process be improved before automation?
Should the product be improved before spending lots of money acquiring equipment to build it?

Would be foolish invest automation before answering these questions. (2)

Invest automation

Buying a piece of automation can be a very long and difficult process. Here is a list of the most common mistakes made when purchasing automation equipment.

No Equipment Specification

Failure to define your company’s expectations regarding performance, aesthetics, and hardware preferences will eventually lead to confusion and misunderstanding. A detailed equipment specification will force the project engineer to examine all aspects of the project. And while you want to allow your vendor the opportunity to be creative in solving the automation problem for you, at the same time you need to be absolutely clear about your expectations.

Equipment specification could include the following:

Project Objective, Performance Expectations,Preferred Hardware List, Design Requirements, Product Information and Acceptance Criteria

Failure to visit automation houses

Often requests for quotation are sent out to automation houses with very little prior knowledge about the company. A visit to one or more appropriate suppliers early in the process will help assure that you are looking at viable solutions from capable partners. This visit should also help you interpret the quotation much more clearly as a result of having seen the equipment; you should also get a much clearer understanding of the scope of work that will be performed to develop your solution. As a result, the price quoted for the equipment will have more meaning and allow for a better comparison.

Incorrectly estimating costs of automation projects

Most of us know of a manager who has presented his supervisor a proposal for an automation project, sold the idea, and grossly underestimated the cost of the project. Now, to save face, the manager and his or her subordinates spend their time looking for the right price rather than the right solution. Without fail, this approach will force you to shortchange your objectives and compromise where you shouldn’t.

A better idea is to get a quote before you parade your idea in front of the money men. Most automation houses would prefer to be involved at the earliest possible time. A good consultative problem-solving session with a potential automation supplier or suppliers will help all parties involved work through the best approach; you may even leave with several different options. In fact, careful planning, even if the initial quote seems more expensive, will invariably save money later.

Failure to involve production in the process

The people responsible for ultimately operating a piece of automation can make the machine look good or bad. Allow the production people to be involved with the project early on. Give them an active role and a chance to take ownership.

In today’s manufacturing environment, many people are involved in process improvements and lean manufacturing projects, and factory personnel offer a great source of creative ideas. Since they’re closest to the process, they can save hours of wasted time by identifying problems early. By taking a lean approach, you might also discover that you don’t need quite as much automation as you originally thought. Or you may be able to re-purpose or reconfigure existing equipment as part of a lean concept.

Poor communication with automation suppliers

Even after a detailed equipment specification has been submitted to the vendor, constant constructive communication must be maintained. Note the word “constructive.” Simply documenting all conversations and responding to written correspondence for the sake of maintaining good records is not nearly enough. Your company and your chosen vendor must form a team.

Review the progress of the project in detail with the vendor at certain points in the project and notify them of any perceived problems as soon as possible. Take advantage of modern technology, too. With all of the outstanding 3-D solid-modeling software available, Web-based meetings, and videoconferencing, it’s possible to meet frequently and to get a very good look at what your automation vendor is designing. You’ll catch errors early and ensure a superior final result.

Don’t accept automation equipment before it’s ready

Do not allow the automation vendor to ship the machine before it is ready. Allowing this to happen usually prolongs time required for the automation to perform according to plan and damages the vendor/company relationship. Re-engineering and troubleshooting after installation are the biggest source of cost overruns with any project. If this happens, you’ll end up paying not only for the on-site fix, but also for any lost revenue from the product you were hoping to introduce.

Failure to supply vendor with critical data

Maintaining proper and up-to-date documentation is an ongoing challenge for most companies. Failure to supply the vendor with sufficiently up-to-date drawings of the project will cause expensive delays.

Even the best automation houses will not always detect nonconformance from the parts to the prints until it is too late, making rework inevitable. Supplying parts which are within specification is also very important.

Failure to design for automation

Some products are not designed to be manufactured or assembled automatically. Some process components cannot be fed automatically, and depending on how frequently your product mix changes, it might not be economically feasible to produce the part automatically. When automation is difficult, perhaps a semiautomatic or even manual solution would be more feasible.

Using the wrong technology for your application

Failure of a project engineer to do his or her homework may result in the least efficient use of equipment, especially if it’s not purchased as part of a long-term strategy.

Can your anticipated system accommodate future change without having to start from scratch each time? Is there an off-the-shelf piece of equipment available for your application? Should you employ flexible automation or hard automation? What about lean manufacturing and manual production? Do I really know if I need to automate? These are the types of questions that should be answered before building a machine or investing in automation. By taking a careful approach, you’re sure to have a much more successful experience when you finally start producing parts with your new equipment. (3)