Automation is the key to lower labor costs and higher competitiveness in the marketplace. It lets companies produce affordable goods to serve their customers. Robots make automation possible in various sectors as they can do repetitive jobs with minimal or no human intervention. They can also let people be creative and find innovative ways to do their jobs. In addition, they are more efficient and cost-effective, triggering a surge in industrial productivity.
Economies and industries all over the globe have realized that robots are cheaper than humans. In other words, industrial robots are a cost-effective investment. Despite this beneficial fact, many still hesitate to implement robots in their workplace because of their hefty initial cost. They need to consider that the cost-effectiveness of industrial robots always outweighs their initial investment. Embracing automation using robotics helps companies quickly recover their Return on Investment (ROI).
For those new to robotics or who don't know how industrial robots are a cost-effective investment, below are the significant reasons that help you understand that robots help manufacturers in their production process and turn larger profit margins into a reality.
1. Enhanced Productivity
A practical design and implementation of industrial robotic systems help manufacturers to maximize uptime and minimize downtime. Moreover, it can be done with modest investments in robotics. Boston Consulting Group estimates that by 2025, robotics adoption will boost productivity by up to 30 percent in many industries. The study also states that robotics will reduce total labor costs by 18 percent or more in the world's biggest economies like the U.S., China, Japan, and Germany.
2. Waste Reduction
Waste materials add up to the business operation costs. Robotics reduces waste material in industrial production owing to their accuracy through automation. Manufacturing defects and scrapping materials are things of the past with the implementation of industrial robots. In addition, enterprises will see their profit margins increase with reduced waste materials.
3. Increased Workplace Safety and Quality of Work
During the early days, robots were used to perform repetitive tasks through automation. Today, they have mastered performing dangerous jobs that are beyond human capabilities. When industrial robots are adequately deployed, we can ward off hazards, leading to fewer injuries, sick leaves, and hefty insurance premiums. They can also eliminate ailments associated with labor-intensive processes like Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI) and Vibration White Finger (VWF).
Robots also improve the working conditions of your enterprise. Your staff no longer works in hot, dusty, or hazardous environments. In addition, robots help to enhance the quality of your employees' work and let them do what inspires them the most.
4. Higher Level Value Addition
The collaboration of humans and robots brings out their full potential. When a company implements robotics in its workplace, they get a chance to focus on a more professionally skilled workforce. On top of that, employees can spend more time on higher-level value creation and innovation when they spend less time on manual labor. As a result, the size of the global industrial robot market is estimated to surpass $165 billion by 2028 from just $55 billion in 2020.
5. Lesser Labor Costs
Manual labor costs are getting expensive day by day. It is because more younger people are shifting from blue to white-collar jobs owing to the increase in their educational levels. Luckily, robots offer a cheaper alternative to manual labor. They also free up workers to use their skills and expertise in other areas, such as coding and engineering.
6. Increased Flexibility and Product Quality
Once the programmed robots are deployed in your workplace, they can easily multitask and help you deal with alterations in product design or market demand with minimal effort. They can also add flexibility to your production line. As a result, your enterprise will reap increased yields when high-quality products are mass-produced.
Get the Right Sensor Technology for Your Industrial Robots from Hokuyo
Sensor technology plays a significant role in robotics. It helps robots gauge their environmental conditions, control themselves and execute their tasks precisely. For example, sensors help robots react to the commands given, and understanding their surroundings helps them measure object proximity, sounds, and temperature and act accordingly.
In addition to providing sensing capabilities to robots, these sensors must provide accurate data even in harsh environmental conditions within which the robots usually operate. Moreover, the sensor's form factor is also critical, as many industrial applications may require robots to operate within a confined space.
At Hokuyo, we offer a full range of sensor products that help robots obtain distance data for presence detection, area monitoring, and spatial recognition. In addition, we also offer a range of safety laser scanners and laser distance sensors for safeguarding and personnel protection in mobile and stationary industrial applications.
Check out our range of industrial sensors, or reach out to us for more information.