There comes a time when your business has experienced enough growth for you to actually start considering automation. When this time comes, there are a number of things that you should do just so you can be ready to buy the robot as well as prepare your wokers for the new addition to the work force. Below are some of those things that will help you seamlessly transition into being a robot owner.
Have a communication plan
Before bringing the robot to the work place, it is important to communicate the arrival of the robot to your workers before it actually arrives. Let them know why the robot is being installed in the first place and ensure that they know that it is not there to take their jobs; notify them of the things that they will have to start doing differently and the new roles they will have (if any) on account of the robor being there, and also deal with any space allocation problems and other issues that may arise because of having to get a new robot.
Conduct operations, programming and safety training
Robots can be dangerous when a person does not know how to operate them properly, and they also happen to be fragile at times, so it would be in your best interest to ensure that before any of your employees go near the robot for whatever reasons, they have the appropriate training. This can help you to avoid accidents that can lead to a worker getting seriously injured, and it will also prevent the robot from being tampered with and getting ruined or broken.
When you have had your workers trained, you should also conduct an assesment that will ensure that they have actually learnt how to operate the robot as well as how to conduct themselves around it.
Know the different types of robots
When you know the different types of robots, then you can effectively be able to choose the robot that will be most suitable for your needs. On one hand, there are collaborative robots which are the best kind to get when you intend for the robot and your workers to constantly be in close contact. They are able to learn from humans and they also have high safety standards.
On the other hand, there are a number of other industrial robots which can cater for a variety of different applications. They include the assembly robot, welding robot, painting robot, palletizing robot, serial or parallel robot and the material handling robot. All these robots complete different tasks because of how they are made. Needless to say, it would be awful if you got a robot that could not do the work for which you intended it.
Know your robot specifications
Before you buy your robot, it is important that you keep in mind the specifications that are important for the robot to have, so that it can be able to be fit for your workplace. This will also help your dealer to find you the robot that suits your needs quicker. It is always a good idea to ask to be taken through a process that can help you decide on what system will be most suitable for your budget, product that you are in the business of manufacturing, facility and also one that will be able to fit your applications.
Therefore, there are a number of robot specifications to consider. To begin with, you must have an idea of the amount of workspace that will be available for the robot, so that you can avoid any constraints that have to do with space or mounting. In addition, you should also determine the work envelope that is available, so that you can know the distance that the robot parts should be able to travel, as well as the reach of the robot. Finally, you have to take into account the weight combination of the parts and tools, because it will help in being able to determine the payload capacity that will be needed.