3 Main Benefits of Collaborative Robots Being Easy to Program
Collaborative robots are seeing increasing adoption mainly because they provide small businesses with an affordable path towards automation. However, affordability is not the only thing that makes these robots a must-have for any company in the manufacturing industry. These robots are incredibly safer than traditional robotic solutions, they are lighter in weight and they have a smaller physical footprint.
However, the most significant advantage that these robots come with is the fact that they are very easy to program and reprogram. Here is what you should know about how this quality allows them to give most companies an unrivaled competitive advantage.
Reduced downtime
Since collaborative robots are easy to program, they tend to take less time to install. As a result, during the initial deployment, a facility tends to suffer minimal losses that are typically associated with downtime installation. The same applies also in cases where one has to change the production workflows.
Whether it is as a result of changes in consumer demands or a change in technology, being able to completely reprogram and redeploy the cobot in a short amount of time will save the business from having to lose clients due to delays. It will also spare the business from taking a hit to its reputation. Essentially, being easy to program means less time spent installing and programming the robot. This then translates to fewer opportunity costs.
No need to hire experts
Traditional robots always featured complex interfaces. In order to properly operate and program them, one needed to hire experts. And even in cases where one had experts on staff, extensive training was sometimes necessary because these systems used customized software and proprietary hardware. This is a process that tends to be both time-consuming and expensive. This is so especially when you consider the fact that experts in robotics tend to command higher salaries than the average factory worker.
Collaborative robots being easier to program means that almost anyone can get them to work. In most cases, in order to operate them or in order to reprogram them, one doesn’t need to have extensive robotic knowledge or training. This is mainly thanks to the intuitive interface that they normally come with. And what this means is that a small business doesn’t have to spend a lot of money on training and paying expert operators to handle the robot.
Seamless pivots and transitions
In competitive industries like the automotive industry, the ability to adapt is essential for success. Therefore, sticking with hard-to-program traditional robots can be a significant disadvantage especially in the face of ever-changing consumer needs that sometimes demand changing production layouts or technologies being used.
Collaborative robots make perfect automotive robots mainly because their flexibility allows manufacturers to redeploy them easily. And at the heart of this ability is the fact that these robots are incredibly easy to program and reprogram.
As a result, when a business needs to incorporate new methods of production, or when they need to add a process, they don’t really have to worry about the inconveniences of reprogramming their robots. Since it is faster, and since they can do it easily, businesses that use these robots tend to enjoy seamless transitions and pivots. This is because this quality makes pivoting less costly. And as a result, it can be a significant competitive advantage.
If you are going to choose an automation solution for your facility, it is always prudent to go for a solution that gives you a good degree of control and flexibility. These are two things that collaborative robots provide businesses. Once you purchase and deploy them, you don’t have to be overly reliant on experts in order to get them to do what you want. You can also redeploy them easily without worrying about extensive downtimes or the costs associated with experts. There is also the fact that with these robots, you won’t be at the mercy of the labor market turmoil.
