A Case for Cobots: providing certainty in uncertain times

Prior to the pandemic, the UK manufacturing industry was dealing with the uncertainty of Brexit and Labour shortages. However, they couldn’t have foreseen the impact that COVID-19 would have on the industry. No industry has been immune to its effects. In order to rise to the ongoing challenges caused by the virus there needs to be a change in mentality, manufacturers can no longer afford to batten down the hatches and wait for the crisis to subside. Active changes are required to meet the demands of a constantly evolving market - and the answer lies with collaborative robots (cobots).

Implementing automation may seem like a daunting process for SMEs. But incorporating automation into a production line can deliver much-needed improvements to output, capacity and stability. This is not to say that automation will replace humans. Cobots take on simple and repetitive tasks, allowing human employees to work on more valuable and complex activities. This also has the added benefit of protecting human employees from the risks of physical injury caused by dull, repetitive tasks. But the real value of cobots lies in their ability to work consistently and efficiently, 24 hours a day.

Common cobot misconceptions

Understandably, many SME manufacturers have misgivings about automation tools, and wrongly perceive them as too expensive, too complex, and more suited to bigger corporations. This can certainly be true of larger, industrial-scale robots, which are better suited to longer production cycles, and tend to demand more space in the production line. Yet, integrating cobots into a production line is not a costly or difficult process.

Built-in safety functions mean that cobots can work alongside human employees without the need for protective guard fencing, so installation can take place without the need to shut down the production floor. Furthermore, cobots don’t require any expertise to set up and can be programmed and reprogrammed in as little as 30 minutes – meaning they can quickly be switched between different tasks. Whereas, it can take weeks for the same to task to complete on cobots’ larger industrial counterparts.

Once installed, they can start paying back their investment on day one of implementation, increasing output and productivity. Short programming times means manufacturers aren’t locked into a particular production cycle and can be extremely flexible and adapt to changing demands. For instance, Bloom-in-a-Box - a flower packaging service based in Lancashire - was able to quickly adapt to the COVID crisis and take advantage of new market opportunities using cobots. When demand for their product decreased the company was able to quickly pivot, adapting their operations and changing its production line to manufacture PPE equipment.

The cost-benefits of cobots

Contrary to popular belief, cobots don’t require a large investment. A cobot typically costs the same as your average worker’s salary. Additionally, there are extensive leasing options available, which means SMEs can offset monthly payments with the increased profitability automation can deliver.

Even without the fallout from the virus, the manufacturing industry has been under increased pressure for some time, as the need for mass customisation and faster product cycles have created complex challenges for manufacturers of all sizes. As a result, automation has become a fundamental part of enhancing productivity and keeping a business competitive, and can no longer be viewed by SMEs as a luxury.

Businesses that do not at least partly automate risk being left behind as the industry moves forward. Given the scale of the current crisis and the uncertainties in markets around the world, businesses of all kinds must look to solutions that make them agile and resilient enough to weather the coming storm. Therefore, it’s crucial that manufacturers take this important first step towards fully automated operations, which will lead to increased productivity, profitability and help navigate increasingly uncertain times. 

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