The automotive industry produces vehicles and spare parts. It has fast adopted automation in its production. It utilizes industrial robotics in nearly all points of production. This makes the automotive industry the most automated production line globally.
They work hand-in-hand with human employees. They help in performing repetitive tasks such as inspection and picking. This allows the employees to participate in problem-solving tasks which increases performance. In automotive production, there are quite a number of industrial robotic production depending on the task to be performed. The following article classifies the valuable automation application in the automotive industry. Here is how automation is used in the automotive industry.
Table of Contents
Assembly
Assembly is one of the major roles in the automotive industry is assembly. Assembly involves connecting different parts of the automobile together to make it complete. The assembly task is repetitive and can be boring if assigned to human employees. Getting automation robots to complete the assembly in the automotive industry helps enhance accuracy. The automation robots are able to fix automotive parts fast enough hence reducing the turnover time. It also leaves human labour to concentrate on task that involves thinking and planning. Some of the tasks involved in the assembly include attachment of door handles, screwing, nut tightening, and windshield wipers among other important tasks.
Machine Tending
Automotive machine tending can be defined as the process of loading or unloading automobiles with materials and parts. They normally work with CNC (Computer Numerical Control). They include milling, lathe, router, plasma cutter, and electric discharge machines. waterjet cutting for the automotive industry is also a type of CNC that plays an important role in automotive production. A functional machine tending involves the following a CNC machine, work-holding, controlling, operator, teach pendant, parts, grippers, robot and a CNC door. The collaboration of these parts provides a smooth flow and task completion. It really helps in preventing possible accidents such as cuts and amputations. It also enhances precise and accurate results.
Painting
Along the automotive production line is painting. Paint is an essential part of every automotive. The task is mainly completed by robots since they provide consistent painting all through. If a human employee was assigned this repetitive task of painting, consistency would lack. Another reason is that automotive paint is made from toxic compounds. They may place human health at risk of contracting diseases such as respiratory complications or irritations. Automation robots lower production costs since they are fast. They also lower the production cost since there is little or no wastage of the paint.
Welding
We will all agree that welding is one dangerous task. It requires precision and accuracy. Automation robots are able to perform Arc, Laser, TIG, Plasma, soldering, Ultrasonic, brazing and spot welding. It performs these tasks with high accuracy, precision, and fast. It saves the human employee from the health effects directly associated with different types of welding involved in automotive production. Some of the hazards associated with welding include the risk of electrical shock, skin irritation from the heat generated, and respiratory-related conditions from the fumes emitted. Other risks include lowered oxygen levels, burns and hitting injuries.
Quality Inspection
The use of automation robots for quality inspection can go a long way in drawing the distinct line between a successful automotive production and an expensive, labour-intensive automotive production full of errors. The application of automation robots helps the automotive industry deliver quality and well-inspected automobiles. This translates to reduced production costs and increased market delivery automotive. On the other hand, utilizing human labour in the inspection of quality increases the lope holes to errors and failures. This is the reason why automotive industries use automation robots to check on automotive quality since they are accurate in their assessment. They are also consistent in their assessments regardless of the number of inspections they do. This enables the automotive industry to guarantee high quality to consumers.
Material Removal
One of the key steps in automotive production is the material removal and polishing of different parts. Parts polishing involves processes such as cleaning automotive parts, trimming metals and smoothening moulds. Material removal involves tasks like grinding, milling, deburring, drilling, sanding, and routing. Just as with other automotive production, material removal and also parts polishing have some risks associated. One may be at risk of cuts and amputations of body parts like fingers and arms. Using automation helps alleviates these risks and ensures the work results are accurate, clean and precise.
In Summary
The notion many have is that automation steals human jobs. The truth is automation enhances human jobs and in automotive industries has more benefits attached to it. These benefits include; lowering operational costs, increased production, enhanced quality, increased flexibility, safe operation and enhanced accuracy. These benefits are enough reasons for other industries to adopt the use of automation robots to reap similar benefits as the automotive industry.
