Collaborative robots are increasingly becoming the go-to automation solution for small businesses. With these robots, businesses can be able to get all the benefits that come with having an automated production line without necessarily incurring the prohibitive costs that are typically associated with traditional automation systems. As a result, small businesses are now able to effectively compete in industries and spaces that were previously reserved for big companies.
While reaping the margins of scale rewards that come with implementing robot assembly is enough for most businesses to go all-in in using collaborative robots in their assembly lines, there is one advantage that most people overlook: the ability of these robots to help a small business to optimize their assembly line processes. The following are the reasons why collaborative robots are perfect for a business that is looking to continuously optimize their processes.
Incredibly easy to reprogram and redeploy
In the course of running a business, there are times when you have to change your workflow. This may be due to the fact that you want to install new machinery, or that you have been forced to pivot away from existing processes due to changes in the market. In such cases, implementing these changes has always been cumbersome, timeconsuming, and expensive simply because traditional robotic systems are typically hard to reprogram and redeploy.
However, when it comes to cobots, the process is easier and smoother. This has to do with the fact that these robots have been designed to ensure that they are easy to reprogram and redeploy. This, in addition to how easy it is to replace robotic arms, makes it easy for a business to adapt to changes in market forces of both demand and supply.
Small size for fitting in tight spaces
For a small business, space is an extremely valuable resource. Therefore, when implementing advantageous changes in a given process, a business has to consider the availability of space and whether the change might end up costing more than the benefits it comes with. As a result, a business may end up forgoing changes like implementing automation simply because of space constraints.
Collaborative robots are relatively smaller. They can fit in tight spaces, making them extremely adaptable as far as the small business environment is concerned. Since they take up less space, they can be easily deployed to take over processes in almost any part of the production process. This is because a business does not have to worry a lot about the inconvenience that such a move will cause. As a result, this gives a small business more flexibility as far as their choices of optimization areas is concerned.
No expertise needed to operate
When a business owner decides to implement changes in the production line, he or she does not have to worry about the expertise of the personnel that traditionally handles those tasks. Cobots are intuitive by design and are thus easy to operate. Therefore, when you deploy it to a different section in the production process, you won’t have to worry about retraining costs or hiring operators. Existing employees can easily operate the robot. In fact, given their collaborative nature, they can start collaborating as soon as they are installed.
The fact that these robots are easy to operate reduces the barriers that are usually associated with making changes to an existing process. It makes it less expensive and it also reduces downtime. Making changes that are designed to optimize the assembly line is, therefore, easier for small businesses that use cobots, especially when compared to those that rely on traditional robotic systems.
Since change is inevitable for businesses that are competing in an ever-changing marketplace, having the freedom to make changes easily becomes a competitive advantage. And since cobots make it incredibly easy for businesses to change and optimize differences processes, taking advantage of them can be the difference between survival and failure. This is so especially when you keep in mind the cost-benefit of having flawless changes and transitions in a business that is already operational.