AUTOMATION/SMART FACTORY u FANUC


and identify ways to do it better. Automating processes that are dull, dirty or dangerous helps reduce staff injuries and overcome quality issues born of boredom, freeing up employees to take on more value-added tasks. This can improve staff retention rates, boosting morale and positively impacting productivity. Automation can also help to capture experienced employees’ expertise. A successful project will involve talking at length to the people who carry out the task and discussing with them how to do it better. By actively engaging shop floor workers, their expertise can be retained. This last point is particularly pertinent, given that almost one fifth of employees in the UK manufacturing industry is aged 55 or over, with 20% of the workforce set to retire within the next decade.


MYTH #4: WHY FIX SOMETHING THAT ISN’T BROKEN? OUR CURRENT EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN WORKING FINE FOR DECADES… Great! There’s no reason why embracing automation should require any company to ditch their current equipment, especially if it is working well. FANUC robots are regularly integrated into existing lines, complementing older machinery to enhance working practices and increase efficiency and boost productivity. What’s more, these modern alternatives are designed to last for decades. Not only are today’s automation solutions


fast, consistent, flexible and adaptable, but they are also extremely reliable. Older machinery can require more maintenance to keep it running,


26 October 2023 Irish Manufacturing


meaning more time offline and resulting in unproductive downtime and growing repair costs. By contrast, advanced condition monitoring has almost completely eliminated unforeseen breakdowns and unnecessary part replacements in modern robotics, enabling longer service intervals and increased uptime. FANUC’s robots are known for their outstanding reliability with an eight-year mean time between failures, while our CRX collaborative robot (cobot) series boasts eight- year zero maintenance. Failure to update and invest in new technology erodes competitiveness and ultimately risks putting a company out of business.


MYTH #5: WE LACK THE IN-HOUSE SKILLS TO PROGRAMME A ROBOT The amount of knowledge and expertise that businesses already have on site often comes as a surprise. If employees are used to setting up CNC equipment, they will find it much easier to set up a robot. FANUC software does not require in-depth knowledge of coding. Simple drop down ‘nesting’ menus with


standard procedures and a range of Yes/No choices make today’s advanced automation systems far simpler and more adaptable than previous iterations, and easily capable of being programmed by in-house staff. In addition, we offer training, either at our UK headquarters in Coventry or at customers’ premises, as well as a dedicated after-sales support team for any queries that may arise throughout the robot’s lifespan.


MYTH #6: ANY AUTOMATION SYSTEM WE INSTALL WILL QUICKLY BECOME OBSOLETE Robot technology and tasks, such as pick, turn and place, have been around for decades. What has changed is control software and the tools that can be attached to them. Robotic tools will last at least as long as ordinary tools but deliver far more value throughout their lifespan. Regarding operating software, this is supported


at FANUC with ongoing, automatic upgrades, including to cybersecurity processes. Our lifetime support promise ensures that we will continue to upgrade, support and repair our products for as long as the customer wishes to use them.


MYTH #7: AUTOMATION IS PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE The key here is only to buy equipment appropriate to need and to focus on the total cost of ownership, rather than the initial purchase price. By speaking with an experienced automation provider, manufacturers can ensure that their system is not over-specified, and that it will deliver a good return on investment over the planned lifespan of the installation. The UK government is encouraging the


purchase of capital equipment with annual investment allowances that enable machinery costing up to £1,000,000 to be fully offset against profits in a single year. And the rise in corporation tax means that tax reliefs are now even more valuable. In addition, banks and finance companies offer a range of financing packages, including leasing, that can spread costs by offsetting them against taxable revenues.


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