Automation blog
Accelerating socially driven innovation
28 March, 2023 Society is built on cultural norms and values that shape how people think, behave, and interact with each other. These cultural factors can influence everything from consumer preferences and business practices to political beliefs, which in turn affect how manufacturing evolves.Manufacturing is one of the most important sectors of any economy, yet in the UK it can fairly claim to be underrated - despite our being the world’s 9th largest manufacturing nation. According to MAKE UK research, manufacturing provides 2.7 million jobs, has an annual output of £191 billion, and offers wages 13% higher, on average, than the rest of the economy.The sector also has a multiplier effect which extends far beyond the jobs and wealth it creates directly, supporting the growth of other industries and creating a positive cycle of economic growth - boosting the overall productivity of the country and improving lives.
Why automated inspection systems are critical for electric vehicle manufacturing
23 March, 2023 Safety trumps all other concerns in the automotive industry, and electric vehicle manufacturing is no exception. However, safety can also introduce complexity, and the complexity of today’s vehicles – particularly EVs – is such that manufacturers are no longer able to rely on traditional sample or audit-based inspection methods.
Can Artificial Intelligence (AI) in robot systems manage the functional safety parts?
20 March, 2023 Authors: Josep Plassa, Safety Product Marketing Manager at OMRON Europe and Atsushi Oshiro, Manager at the OMRON Development CenterRobots and AI systems have become an integral part of industrial manufacturing sites. To ensure the safety of workers while using robots, a detailed risk assessment is necessary. This assessment is carried out from the perspective of Functional Safety, which examines the five main elements employed by robots to determine autonomous control actions: Environment recognition, Action planning, Trajectory generation, Motion control, and Measurement.
How Remote Connectivity can help your company through challenging economic times
27 February, 2023 What was supposed to be a period of recovery for the manufacturing industry post-pandemic has turned into anything but. Labour shortages persist, except now they’re compounded by high inflation, a looming recession, the conflict in Ukraine, and political mayhem at home. It can feel like every day brings another challenge to overcome. UK manufacturing was already at an inflection point, with businesses looking to transform their operations, introduce new technologies, and find ways to increase automation. Unfortunately, this can require an injection of capital that is harder to find at a time of financial uncertainty.As we round out 2022 with our third government of the year, we are still not sure how the new premiership of Rishi Sunak plans to solve the black hole that is the nation’s finances. But one thing is for certain, costs will rise, and UK manufacturing has a tumultuous road ahead. However, even when market conditions are tough, opportunities remain. In this blog, we will discuss the challenges of investing in new machinery, particularly given the economic outlook and how remote connectivity can help maximise its use while also minimising operational costs.
Artificial Intelligence: don’t call me stupid
08 February, 2023 Ten years ago I was quite proud of how smart the machines in our own factory were. Now, with my today’s definition of smart, I realise they were actually quite stupid.Why? Because although they were doing what they were designed to do, the minute they encountered anything unexpected or out of the ordinary they were stumped. They resorted to asking the operator ‘what is wrong with me?’.Troubleshooting and getting machines back up and running called for smart people. Highly skilled operators. Experienced software and hardware engineers. The problem is that in the last ten years, these people have become increasingly unavailable. There quite simply isn’t enough new talent entering the industry to offset the number of workers reaching retirement age. When they leave the business, retirees take with them their hard-earned on-the-job knowledge that is a culmination of years of experience. With each departing worker, businesses are faced with the prospect of a less productive and less skilled workforce.
How to speed up cobot integration
08 February, 2023 Good planning and strong partners help SMEs overcome hurdles in automation.Collaborative robots, also known as cobots, are enjoying great popularity because they make it possible to automate time-consuming and resource-intensive tasks. The global market for collaborative robots is currently estimated at around $1.2 billion. The sales volume of cobots reached a total of 32,300 units in 2021. Especially in times when it is becoming increasingly difficult for companies to find and retain suitable employees, such technologies are worth their weight in gold in many places. Speaking of gold, some may ask: Cobots must be extremely expensive, right? When does such an investment pay off?Automation expert OMRON would like to alleviate such worries, especially for small and medium-sized companies: Smart and integrated robotics solutions as well as cobots and mobile robots are feasible and affordable. For those who want to estimate the return on investment, OMRON’s ROI calculator provides a quick and easy overview.Cobots and autonomous mobile robots (AMR) are suitable for both SMEs and large-scale businesses. They perform tasks such as transport, palletizing, loading and unloading of machines, assembly, painting, or welding. They can be quickly and flexibly retooled and also programmed by non-experts. Material replenishment can be streamlined with AMRs, and machine and process loading with cobots. However, to successfully carry out such projects and accelerate robot integration, know-how and partners who are familiar with the subject matter are needed. And above all, employees must be informed and involved from the start of the project to be part of the change together.Here are some tips companies should keep in mind when integrating cobots:
Solving machinery downtime challenges with remote connectivity
07 February, 2023 Manufacturing machinery is a significant investment and every minute it isn’t running is a lost opportunity for your business. Studies show that unexpected machinery downtime costs industrial manufacturers an estimated $50 billion (USD) each year, and poor maintenance strategies can reduce capacity by 5 to 20%.With money on the line, organisations require production schedules that minimise downtime while still allowing for critical maintenance to ensure safety.
Top 5 automation predictions for 2023 from OMRON Europe
01 February, 2023 While a new year is upon us, with all its opportunities, I'd like to highlight some of the top trends that will impact and shape industrial automation in 2023 and beyond. The manufacturing industries will continue to face many challenges, and riding them out will involve building resilience and flexibility into business models. At the same time, companies must embrace emerging technologies - sensing, robotics, 5G and artificial intelligence - to help them solve the problems they face due to societal challenges.
The path to net zero: talking tactics
01 February, 2023 The key to unlocking a net zero future in manufacturing is transforming the value chain through automation.In June 2022, New Scientist reported that a third of the world’s largest companies had net zero targets - significantly more than the same time last year.Whilst it is positive news that momentum is accelerating, the article went on to say that the details of how companies were planning to reach net zero were patchy.Which is not surprising really. Creating and implementing a net zero strategy is a huge undertaking for any business, especially with 80% of GHG emissions falling into Scope 3 - that is emissions that occur upstream or downstream in the value chain. This is a particular challenge for FMCG companies, whose supply chains and onward logistics are long and complex.Most of these businesses know what they need to do: decarbonise and circularise the value chain. And they have a strategy for doing this, which will generally cover: optimising the use of resources and energy, replacing high emission products and processes and eliminating waste.But translating intention into action is where the main challenge lies. This is where automation has a crucial role to play.Data collection and analysis is the key to successful net zero transition. Without it, how do companies know what their starting point is, where they need to improve, whether they have improved and by how much? Robust data is the foundation for turning a commitment into change, and for credibly and confidently communicating with stakeholders and delivering on climate ambitions.
Powering through the energy and fuel crisis with automation
07 December, 2022 To counter rising prices and meet environmental targets, industrial enterprises should explore how automation technologies from a single source might help contribute to their sustainability strategy.High energy and fuel prices are putting a strain on both households and industry. Not only is the situation negatively impacting financial plans and wallets, but the excessive prices are forcing some companies to cease production. According to Make UK 42% of manufacturers surveyed said that their electricity bills have increased by 100% in the past 12 months and 32% said that gas prices have increased by over 100% in the past year. A worrying 12% of manufacturers have already made job cuts as a direct result of increased energy bills.The war in Ukraine, Covid-19 pandemic, and gas pricing are only a few of the causes of the crisis, which impacts all sectors and has an impact on everything from power prices to supply chains. What should manufacturing companies consider now? Comprehensive automation strategies are essential for greater flexibility and energy efficiency. This includes innovative robotics paired with sensor and vision technology as well as artificial intelligence – AI at the Edge. In addition, real-time data from production plants can assist with detecting anomalies and improving overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
Riders of the storm: navigating economic uncertainty by turning social challenges into tech opportunities
06 December, 2022 One of the questions I am often asked is what our strategy is, as an industrial automation business, for maintaining stable growth in a volatile and increasingly unpredictable global economy. My answer, as you might imagine, is not one sentence, although it is rooted in one concept: SINIC. SINIC stands for ‘Seed-Innovation to Need-Impetus Cyclic Evolution’ and is a theory that was developed by OMRON's founder, Dr. Kazuma Tateisi, in 1970. According to this philosophy, science, technology and society share a cyclical relationship, mutually impacting and influencing each other. Scientific breakthroughs help society to advance and social needs spur on technological development. OMRON Europe has always followed this philosophy, and has spent the last decade laying the foundations for creating value-adding solutions to present day social and economic challenges.
Four Automation Tips for SMEs
25 November, 2022 Corporate leaders around the world are currently facing one challenge after another: In addition to the exploding costs caused by the energy crisis, there are supply chain problems, a shortage of skilled workers, sustainability requirements, and advancing digitization issues. In particular, small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) need to quickly find ways to address these hurdles. Automation provides a remedy – this includes robotics such as cobots and AMR (autonomous mobile robots), as well as sensors, vision, and AI technology. While companies are well aware of the benefits of such technologies, studies also show that many remain skeptical of their actual use.Especially companies without application experience fear that the use of robots could be accompanied by high costs. So if you are currently wondering whether the purchase of a collaborative or mobile robot is worthwhile for your own business, OMRON's new ROI calculator will help. It provides a quick overview of the return on investment and shows when a robotics investment will cover its costs.
Improved flexibility, agility and traceability with mobile robots for Normagrup
06 January, 2021 Normagrup, which specialises in technologically advanced lighting, needed to automate the transport of materials between three production areas, the assembly area and an automated warehouse. This involved moving through narrow spaces shared with factory personnel.
Mobile robot streamlines food deliveries
30 November, 2020 A whistling autonomous mobile robot has been seen recently moving around the corridors of shopping centre in Helsinki, Finland. Operated by OMRON’s solution partner Dimalog, the robot was taking part in a month-long ‘Home On-Demand’ automated courier service trial.
3 Ways COVID-19 is Impacting Logistics Operations in the UK (and what to do about it)
04 November, 2020 By Stuart Coulton, Regional Manager, OMRON UK North
What to consider when selecting a mobile robot for heavy loads
11 September, 2020 Five questions to ask when selecting autonomous material transport technology for industrial applications.
Factory automation: four tips for the future of food & beverage manufacturing
16 July, 2020 The coronavirus pandemic has posed major challenges to organisations of all types and sizes. In the food and commodity industry, companies have faced significantly reduced consumption and disrupted supply chains, while at-home consumption increased, and out-of-home consumption came near to a standstill. But how can manufacturers adapt their business strategies and production processes both now and in the longer term? The pandemic may provide an opportunity for rethinking outdated processes and procedures and enhancing them with concepts such as innovative robotics, sensor technology and holistic automation strategies.
Cobots give gear manufacturer a competitive production edge
14 May, 2020 Danish gear manufacturer, Fischer Gears, has boosted the competitiveness of its production process - especially on larger series – by installing two OMRON TM robots. The collaborative robots (cobots) free experienced employees to focus on more value-adding tasks.
Made-to-order production with an advanced fleet of mobile robots
11 May, 2020 VOLA, a Danish manufacturer of luxury sanitary and kitchen fittings, has opened a new factory that incorporates a fleet of nine mobile robots from Omron.
Mobile robots smarten up Toyota’s new parts centre
28 April, 2020 Intelligent robots and sophisticated design are helping Toyota to achieve a higher level of efficiency at its new warehouse in Sydney, Australia.
Cobot and flexible production - Future-proofing SMEs?
17 March, 2020 Many countries in Europe, such as the UK and Germany are likely to experience serious labour shortages over the coming decade, especially in relation to technical specialists. At the same time, product lifecycles are becoming shorter. Despite this, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) might be reluctant to invest in additional automation. However, collaborative robots (cobots) are easy to set up and offer a quick and cost-effective solution. They can increase the flexibility, quality and speed of production and enable companies to respond rapidly to changing market conditions. Omron’s TM series of cobots are a good example of this versatility.
ŠKODA AUTO uses LD mobile robot at Vrchlabí plant
17 March, 2020 The autonomous robot contributes to the continuous improvement of work safety in Vrchlabí and helps to minimise work risks. It recognises people crossing its path as well as other vehicles and stationary obstacles.
Safety in collaborative applications
10 February, 2020 Collaborative robots can be used in a wide range of industrial applications. Thanks to various integral safety features, they can work safely with or near people. In addition, they can easily adapt to changing needs. This results in increased productivity, especially in repetitive tasks, enabling manufacturers to reap the benefits of a high return on their investment. However, for a cobot application to be successful, it must incorporate safety considerations based on comprehensive risk assessments. So, what are the industry safety standards and solutions that will enable a company to gain the maximum value from cobots within a collaborative workspace?
The factory of the future: people and machines working together in harmony
20 January, 2020 Automation and artificial intelligence (AI) are transforming the efficiency of industrial production, through stronger interactions between man and machine that can boost productivity. A new, promising model for ‘factory harmony’ is based on intelligent, integrated and interactive design for tomorrow's manufacturing processes.
Expect the unexpected: Prepare, Prevent & Predict
25 February, 2019 Sudden stops on a production line can cost a fortune. Avoiding unexpected stops and reducing scheduled downtime are key components to boost OEE. It sounds simple, but requires interpretation of the right, often complex, data. Artificial intelligence can optionally be deployed to interpret the collected relevant device and machine data real-time. Our solutions assist you to actively steer your operations to optimize the schedule for maintenance activities, and minimize maintenance and support costs.