FEATURE FACTORY AUTOMATION
STEPPING STONES to adopting full automation
As SMEs begin to take a leap of faith into the fast paced world of automation Endoline Machinery outlines the steps they should take into automating their production facility
I
t’s official: SMEs in the UK are on the up with growth and start up business
rates returning to pre-crisis levels. Considered the backbone of the economy SMEs contribute £1.2 trillion to the UK each year. According to reports 2016 is set to be the ‘tipping point’ for manufacturing technology with increasing numbers of companies embracing robotics and automation. While this rise in the manufacturing sector has sparked employment debates, companies are realising the potential to improve output and efficiencies through automation. Job roles will start to shift away from labour intensive repetitive tasks to more intricate roles to optimise manufacturing processes and aid business development. SMEs face the same challenges as large
Blue Chip companies: rising raw materials and labour costs, quality concerns and work safety issues yet are more inclined to embrace change and reinvest in their company as, ultimately, their entire livelihood is on the line.
GET FLEXIBLE As a small company you may have to adapt your business several times to meet growing demand and question investing in automation in case the system becomes obsolete within a couple of years. However, any automation supplier worth their salt will offer an adaptable solution to future proof your investment. Today many machines can be upgraded or retrofitted with new technology to suit future requirements; many of our systems have been in situ for almost 30 years and adapted with the changing demands from our customers. Portability is important; as you grow you may look to upgrade your premises so make sure that your automated system is easy to move.
WHERE’S THE PAYBACK? For most SMEs the return on investment (ROI) figures can be a real deal breaker. However with careful planning a 12- month ROI is attainable. A well thought out automated system can quickly turn an inefficient labour intensive operation into a cost effective high output
10 MAY 2016 | FACTORY EQUIPMENT
time, energy and effort when used in the right applications.
DON’T RUN BEFORE YOU CAN WALK An age-old saying but when a company decides to automate they often feel that unless they have thousands of £s to spend fully automating their packaging line then they might as well not bother. However, we often find ourselves reminding customers that they can build up automation slowly. Look at a way of automation which
production line. Only go for what you need; look for systems that can suit the changing needs of your business. A quality provider of automation will help you calculate the best solution for you based on your existing costs.
EASE OF USE Any downtime on production can have a detrimental effect on any business. So with this in mind it’s important to make sure you can install automation easily and be able to program it quickly so your production can run smoothly. If you have to rely on resources outside
of your business you run the risk of a gap in production which can have a direct impact on your profitability so speak to your provider for regular on-site training and support packages.
BECOME LEANER There is much debate around automation and lean but SMEs should put the myths to bed and focus on solutions. Implementing lean into manufacturing
environments means that it really is an approach to solving manufacturing problems and if the best solution to a particular problem involves automation then that makes automation lean. Ultimately it’s about reducing errors and defects and error-proofing. Finding the right level of automation can enhance your lean initiatives in previously unconsidered ways, giving you new ways in which to reduce wasted
This year is set to become the tipping point for automation with many SMEs taking the plunge
brings flexibility to suit your growing needs while lowering the risk level. Rather than replacing your workforce with a fully automated line ease your company into the concept while keeping labour involved to work on the new, more productive packaging line.
USE A REPUTABLE COMPANY If in doubt many people turn to the internet; we have even known first time buyers purchase automation equipment from eBay. However if something goes wrong with that system you will find it difficult to purchase spare parts or find a reputable engineer to fix the problem. Purchase from a quality supplier and don’t be put off if they work with bigger companies; chances are they will offer less technical systems for a lower price but for the same quality. Over 30% of Endoline machinery sales
in 2015 came from SMEs, an increase of 10% on previous years and this figure is rising. With the intelligence of machines improving now is the time to seriously consider investing in automated systems to make your production more efficient. The minimum wage increase will affect SMEs most keenly; by automating labour intensive tasks they can streamline their workforce and employ people to work on growing the business. From 1 January the Annual Investment Allowance was set at £200k whereby SMEs can make tax deductible investments on automation. It’s not a case of if you decide to automate but when.
Endoline Machinery T: 01767 316422
www.endoline-automation.com
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