Robotic System Integrators

Chapter One: What is a Robotic System Integrator?

Robotic system integrators specialize in assisting companies with automating various applications. They design robotic technologies tailored to meet the specific needs of an operation and provide solutions for integrating robotics into industrial processes. While robot manufacturers produce countless robotic solutions for diverse applications, these are generally designed for broad use.

Robot manufacturers depend on robotic system integrators to leverage their expertise in helping end users select the right robotic solution for specific conditions. Robotic system integrators are crucial in channeling, distributing, and developing automated robotic solutions.

Each robot integrator specializes in a specific set of solutions, as it is impossible for one integrator to have an answer for every situation. Integrators are selected based on the process they are integrating and their skill set's suitability for the application. Their selection also depends on their track record of success in providing solutions for that particular application.

The focus of robot system integrators varies between material handling, warehousing, and supply chain robots and ones for manufacturing, production, and assembly. Customers choose a robot system integrator dependent on the integrator’s specialty.

Chapter Two: How to Choose a Robotic System Integrator?

A robotic system integrator acts as a partner, collaborating with clients to develop optimal solutions for their production challenges. The key distinguishing characteristic of a robotic system integrator is their extensive knowledge and understanding of robotic solutions. After thoroughly examining and evaluating a client's processes, a trained integrator will outline various approaches to implementing robotic solutions.

Experience

Among the many factors in selecting a robotic system integrator, experience is the most vital. This experience goes beyond knowledge of robotic systems and their operation; it also includes familiarity with the specific industries they have served. For instance, a robotic system integrator specializing in material handling would be unqualified to develop a solution for an assembly operation, just as an expert in welding robotics would be unsuitable for inventory applications.

In the initial steps of searching for a robotic system integrator, clients must recognize the various types of specialists and choose one with expertise in their specific industry and processes.

Solutions

A robotic system integrator with experience in a specific industrial or supply chain function must be knowledgeable about the best available solutions. Often, clients are unaware of the intricacies and complexities of robotic capabilities. They rely on their integrator to deliver the highest quality solutions that perfectly match their operations.

The Plan

One of the challenges of being a robotic system integrator is developing a customized plan for each client, as no single solution fits all applications. Robot manufacturers produce thousands of different systems designed for various industrial operations, each of the highest quality and performance. The integrator's role is to understand the myriad of available solutions and select the right combination to meet the client's specific needs.

Once the selection process is completed, the robotic system integrator outlines a plan of how to implement and deploy the robots in the client’s environment. Each step of the plan clearly details the various robots and how they will interact without interfering with each other’s functions.

The plan is a crucial key to the success of a robotic implementation. The client must clearly understand how each element works together to improve efficiency, maximize uptime, enhance productivity, and reduce costs compared to their current operation.

A major component of the plan involves addressing the financial, technical, regulatory, and safety factors, which are the client's responsibilities, with the financial aspects clearly outlined. Clients will compare these cost factors to their current operations. The robotic system integrator may need to highlight that, although the initial cost may appear high, significant savings will be realized when amortized over several years.

Execution

While all plans may appear perfect on paper, they often require adjustments during implementation. An experienced robotic system integrator is well aware of the challenges and issues that can arise and is prepared to address them. Each element of the integration must be tested, refined, and adjusted to ensure that the various components work together seamlessly to achieve a positive and productive outcome. During this phase, integrators must pay close attention to even the smallest details to optimize performance and ensure success.

Support

Robotic system integration demands constant and ongoing support, which can be a crucial factor for clients, especially those unfamiliar with the technical aspects of robotics. It's highly unlikely to find a robotic system integrator that does not offer continuous support. Providing this support not only exemplifies excellent customer service but also allows the integrator to showcase their skills and expertise to potential clients.

Certification

In 2012, the Robotics Industries Association (RIA) established a certification process for robot integrator programs, setting a benchmark for assessing the technical expertise and business practices of robotic system integrators. An RIA certification signifies that a robotic system integrator has attained the highest levels of proficiency, experience, and success in their field.

The certification process goes beyond merely applying for a certificate. It includes on-site audits, evaluations of system integrator personnel, assessments of safety training, and a range of other criteria, all of which must meet the highest standards. Companies that achieve certification have demonstrated the capabilities, skills, and expertise needed to provide the highest quality service.

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Chapter Three: What Are the Different Types of Robotic System Integrators?

The types of robotic system integrators are as diverse as industrial operations themselves. They encompass a wide range of functions, applications, processes, and operations, with each specializing in a specific form of robotics. Whether installing, implementing, or updating robotic systems, a robotic system integrator is essential for ensuring a successful integration process.

As technology demands continue to grow and evolve, robotic systems are increasingly becoming a necessity. With rapid advancements in technology, it is crucial to hire an expert who is knowledgeable in the field and can deliver the most effective solutions

Warehousing

Warehousing has long utilized a variety of robotic solutions to streamline sorting, storing, picking, and packing orders. The surge in robotic solutions has been driven by the rise of e-commerce and online retailing, which demands timely and efficient deliveries.

Collaborative Robots

One of the basic concerns in manufacturing is keeping workers on task and at their workstations. Collaborative robots work with employees to finish processes and assist in redundant or repetitive tasks such that workers can concentrate on more complex and mental work.

Assembly

Over the last thirty or forty years, assembly operations have been slowly integrating robotics into the process to avoid human errors, reduce assembly times, and provide detailed inspection of final products.

Chapter Four: What Types of Robots Are Integrated into a System?

There is a vast array of robots available for integration into production, manufacturing, material handling, hospitals, and other industries. Clients need only to inquire, and a robotic system integrator will provide a suitable robotic solution. With a robot for nearly every type of operation and process, an experienced robotic system integrator knows exactly where to find the right one for the job.

Chapter 5: Automation Integration and Robotics

Although robotic functions and automated functions are two separate entities, they are processes that integrate for the improvement of production and efficiency. The focus of robotics is the design, construct, and programming of robots to complete different types of activities. They can be mobile or static and are capable of being adjusted and reprogrammed to meet the needs of an application.

While robots are oriented toward performing a single task or a set of tasks, automation operates on a grander scale and involves a wide range of technologies that include computer systems, software, building control systems, and is involved in the overall functions of a production system. Robots can be integrated into the automation process and may become a critical aspect.

Robots are tools that are designed to perform certain tasks. They are very much like the other pieces of machinery that stamp, bend, wire, and form various aspects of a product. In essence, they are highly developed and technologically advanced pieces of equipment that save on labor costs, work very efficiently, and are able to operate continuously.

By comparison, automation integration oversees every part of a production facility and coordinates the different activities to ensure the efficient completion of applications, processes, and product movement. In an organization that has several robots performing various tasks, automation integration ensures that all of the robots perform their functions without interfering with other processes and applications.

The processes of robotics and automation have become essential parts of advancing the modernization of industry. Their use in combination increases the precision, safety, and efficiency of manufacturing. Their interaction has led to innovations and improvements in industrial applications. The integration of AI with robotics and automation systems is rapidly improving the intelligence and adaptability of equipment to further increase and improve production.

Automation integration involves programming the tasks of robots into the control system of a manufacturer. It is a method that allows for control of all equipment in a facility from one location. The input actions are downloaded to the robot controller. This aspect of the process can be used for programming the actions of a single robot or a group of robots. The use of automation integration makes it possible to change the activities of robots and repurpose them.

Many years ago, when a factory was going through a changeover, operations would shut down for weeks or months depending on how much change was necessary. This practice was common in the auto industry, which went through model changes every year. Automation integration has eliminated the need for such stoppages and made it possible to easily alter and adjust production parameters.

Although automation integration has become an excellent solution, in its initial stages, there were problems due to the inability to uniformly control all types of robots

since each robot manufacturer had their own unique software and programming. When robot manufacturers realized the division between control systems and programming made it difficult to use automation integration, the primary robot manufacturers, ABB, Comau, Epson, Fanuc, Jaka, Kawasaki, Kuka, Nachi, Panasonic, Stäubli, TM Robot, Yamaha, and Yaskawa, worked together to develop a shared solution to make the use of an automation integration system a reality.

The joint work led to the development of a uniform data interface between the PLC and the robot controllers to make robot programming more efficient. Robot programs are written using a PLC with the necessary functions and reporting data. Once the commands are received by a robot, they are converted into the proprietary language of an organization.

Automation integration is a major step in the progress of modern manufacturing. Its use has radically improved efficiency and productivity. The next steps in the process involve the use of AI to enhance the thinking and capabilities of the automation integration process to increase the abilities of robots to function more independently.

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