Considering robotics? Here’s what to do next

Technology adoption in manufacturing promises great rewards but requires careful planning and groundwork. Senior Manufacturing Advisor Geoff Crossley outlines how our Manufacturing Service can help manufacturers successfully introduce automation and robotics into their business with confidence.

Technology adoption has a big role to play in the future of manufacturing, offering huge rewards to those who get it right in the form of productivity gains, efficiencies, competitive advantage and a host of other benefits.

However, as I’ve explained in a previous blog, the grass is only greener if you have a proper plan in place and the right data to hand. When it comes to the digitalisation of manufacturing, the old adage ‘failing to prepare is preparing to fail’ couldn’t be more true.

If automation and robotics are to work for you, you must first put the groundwork in place by:

1. Fully understanding your process (if you are to introduce a robot onto a line, you need to know what effect it will have on the rest of your process)
2. Implementing lean to minimise waste (putting a robot to work on an already wasteful process will just increase the waste)
3. Involving your people from the start (you need everyone to come with you on the journey, or risk resistance that could stop everything in its tracks).

You’re not alone if you’re thinking this all sounds like a lot of work. Why make your life harder by going to all that effort of setting SMART objectives, mapping processes, recording data and making incremental gains, when what you actually want to do is make your life easier by bringing in a shiny new piece of kit?

The answer is – you’re right; it is a lot of work. But believe me, you’ll regret not doing it if you jump straight to ripping the packaging off a new robot like it’s Christmas Day. It is the preparation beforehand that will make your life easier once you invest in the new kit, not the kit itself.

Slow Brain thinking

In the end, making smart decisions based on hard data, rather than gut feel, is the only way to guarantee success with digital technology. Those who have attended one of our Lean Champion events will recall the section on ‘Slow Brain vs Fast Brain’ thinking. Fast Brain thinking is instinctive and often results in snap decisions that sometimes don’t go as planned, whereas Slow Brain thinking is deliberative, data-driven and methodical. Digitalisation is a great example of where Slow Brain thinking has a huge influence on the successful outcome of a project!

Being well prepared will also provide a raft of other benefits that automation and robotics cannot achieve on their own, such as greening your business through reduced waste and energy use.

Where we come in

The good news is that you don’t need to go through this hard work on your own. Our Manufacturing Advisors are experts in helping SMEs put that groundwork in place. For us, it’s the most enjoyable part of the journey. We can act as a stepping-stone that will prepare you for the exciting world of digitalisation ahead.

Getting started

If you’re an SME manufacturer in Greater Manchester with a problem that you think can be solved by automation, get in touch with one of our Manufacturing Advisors for a full review to put the groundwork in place.