Cobots to the Rescue

The phrase “many hands make light work” has been around for generations. And for good reason - it makes a lot of sense. The more help there is with a task, the quicker it gets finished. But what if some of those hands are attached to a robot. Does that count? The short answer is yes, it does.

A cobot, or collaborative robot, is created to work with humans in the same workspace. Cobots have many benefits, one of the most impressive being first-class productivity. Talk with a manufacturer, and you will find that cobots are being used quite a bit, thanks to the many advantages they bring.

Here are our seven favorite reasons why cobots are rolling up to help out on the manufacturing floor.

• Cobots are easy to use. While this one is rather self-explanatory, the best part of their user-friendliness is their ability to be programmed through simple, intuitive controls. Employees without a background in technology need little training on how to run them.
• They promote safety. Because of advanced sensors and programming, humans, and cobots work together efficiently and safely. Collisions and accidents are rare, making the work environment safer for human employees.
• Fewer demands on humans = better human morale. Cobots lessen some physical and mental strain on human workers by taking over repetitive, strenuous, and mundane tasks (with accuracy and consistency). This leads to less errors that can occur with people over time due to fatigue. The icing on the cake is that employees can now focus on more engaging and creative tasks, improving morale and the company’s productivity and workflow.
• Perfect for a phased approach. It’s not all or nothing with automation. Cobots can be brought in gradually as budgets permit. Starting small and scaling up to different production processes can help with smooth transitions into automation.
• Flexibility at its finest. Cobots are adaptable and can be easily fine-tuned to handle assorted jobs on the production line. They also can quickly adjust to changes in production requirements, like new products or updated processes.
• Reprogram on the fly. Reprogramming cobots is quick and easy. Up-to-the-minute instructions are programmed to complete new tasks through user-friendly portals, making for far less downtime when new changes are needed.
• High demand? No problem. A beautiful thing about automation is that cobots can’t get sick and don’t need regular breaks like people do, making them perfect for a high-demand production situation. This leads to that first-rate productivity we mentioned. Combine that with the fact that cobots deliver precise and consistent end products, reduced do-overs and waste, and heightened customer satisfaction, and you have a well-run operation.

Can cobots improve your production line’s productivity? Let us show you what modern manufacturing looks like. Give us a call at 866.243.2402 or request a free consultation. Let’s talk cobots!