Benefits of Cobots You May Not Know
Everyone has heard the same basic spiel about the benefits of using cobots, such as they increase productivity resulting in a healthier bottom line, or they don’t take a sick and vacation days, blah blah blah. But there are more serious benefits you may not have considered, and if you’re the decision maker then it may be worth your time investigating. The more you know, the better your decision will be.
Improved Safety & Ergonomics
When it comes to collaborative robots, there are two key benefits to employee safety. The first is many jobs in a shop are often repetitive and mundane. Employees can get bored, tired, or lose concentration, which may result in an injury that is life changing. Cobots help to prevent these types of accidents, saving both the employee and company from damages.
The second is built-in safety features inside cobots. As we all know the purpose of cobots is to work alongside humans to collaborate in a shared workspace to get the job done. Cobots are designed with advanced sensors and safety features to detect and respond to human presence, thus reducing the risk of accidents and injuries.
Ergonomics is also a factor. Cobots can handle physically demanding or repetitive tasks, reducing the strain on their human counterparts. By taking over repetitive tasks or heavy lifting, cobots can help prevent injuries to arms, legs, hands, and backs improving employee comfort and sustainability, leading to better long-term health and well-being for all.
Workforce Augmentation … NOT Replacement
As we all know cobots are designed to work with their human counterparts, augmenting their capabilities. This does not mean replacing their human counterparts because cobots cannot eternally function without a human being teaching it what to do. Encourage your workforce to embrace this concept. Once understood and accepted, the collaboration will allow your business to leverage the strengths of both employees and robots, creating more efficient, safe, and harmonious work environments.
Quality Improvement
Cobots can contribute to higher product quality and accuracy. With their precise and consistent movements, they can minimize errors and variations in the manufacturing process, resulting in more quantifiable quality products and less waste.
Cost-Effectiveness
Cobots are often more affordable than their human counterparts. A company does not have to waste time, effort, and money training when using a cobot. It also does not wrap up other employees’ time working with an individual who may or may not stay with the company. Rather take the human counterpart, train them how to operate and troubleshoot a cobot, and allow them the realization that they are now smarter and more valuable then they may have previously been. This way of thinking opens the doors to both higher productivity and an employee’s sense of greater dignity and self-respect.
Flexibility and Easy Integration
Cobots are typically lightweight (compared to their industrial counterparts), portable, and can be easily taught or programmed to perform different duties. They can be easily integrated into existing production lines or generational machines, without the need for extensive modifications, specialized infrastructure, or blow to the budget. This flexibility allows businesses to adapt to changing production needs quickly, and in some cases avoid shutdowns or long-term downtime.
Scalability
As your business grows and production demands increase or change, the one constant is that cobots are scalable. Additional cobots can be easily integrated into an existing workflow process or production line to accommodate increased workloads without significant interruption or reconfiguration.
And Finally … Increased Productivity
This goes without saying. Often we read about the benefits of cobots to companies. Yes, automating any kind of task is typically more profitable. But a company cannot increase long-term productivity without first recognizing the value of employees. Sure cobots can assist in tasks that require precision, speed, or strength which increases overall productivity, but we cannot forget ourselves. Without humans, cobots cannot function eternally, therefore the most important aspect of implementing or integrating a cobot is the positive affect, not effect, it has on us overall.
Want to Know More About the Benefits of Cobots?
If you’re looking to embrace automation but unsure of where to start, Absolute’s A+ Automation Team is here for you. We have access to a wide range of models and manufacturers of both collaborative and industrial robots, allowing us to find the perfect automation solution that fits your needs.
To get started on your automation journey, email us today at automation@absolutemachine.com.
