Technology

Advantages and Disadvantages of Small Industrial Robots

Industrial Robots

The small industrial robots’ growth potential is overwhelming. This is attributed to the exponential rate at which industries across the world are automating their routine operations. 

However, it is worth realizing that the manufacturing and processing industries decide to integrate robots in the company processes; upon weighing on the robots’ advantages and the disadvantages.

Advantages of the Small Industrial Robots

1) Increased efficiency

The ease at how a company accomplishes its tasks translates to efficiency in industry operations. Industries have placed more reliance on robots than on human labor because they trust that robots are more reliable and efficient than humans.

The small industrial robots are equipped and programmed to accomplish given jobs with high accuracy. Robots automate tasks that would have taken more time and consumed more resources, thus increasing company efficiency. 

2) Increased profitability

Small industrial robots benefit industries by increasing their profits and reducing the cost per product. Profitability is a direct result of better operations efficiency. Also, with robots in place, minimal resources and time go into task performance.

Besides, robotic automation results in a company producing quality products and services. Profitability results from waste reduction, time and resource savings, quality products that fetch high prices, and customer loyalty. Company revenues increase as there are immense money savings.   

3) Improved working environment

Several tasks in the manufacturing sectors can be classified as being too dangerous, dirty, painstaking, and monotonous for humans to perform.  The robots are suited and can perform such jobs. Hence, robots help minimize workers’ exposure to harmful and hazardous factory substances. 

Also, robots can handle laborious jobs like loading and offloading, lifting heavy products, consequently reducing injuries and other health problems on the workers. Thus, small industrial robots improve the industries’ working conditions and safety.

4) Improved quality

It has been possible, thanks to the robot’s high level of accuracy. Both the company products and services are of high and desirable quality. They have programs and specifications that once entered into the robot’s memory duplicates the same. 

When quality products and services result, there are positive spillover effects such as reduced time for quality control, customer satisfaction, and diminished material wastage. Consequently, the benefit becomes two-fold.   

5) Longer working hours

Small industrial robots can work around the clock. With the correct programs and specifications on what to execute, robots can operate continuously. Compared to humans, robots have 100% efficiency in time utilization. 

Humans are prone to fatigue. Therefore, they have to take breaks, go on vacations, sick leaves, and other unexpected absences from work. Also, their attention span is too slow, and are easily distracted. Thus, much time is lost, and the output becomes minimal.

Disadvantages of Small Industrial Robots

1) High capital cost

Small industrial robots can be very expensive. Their acquisition is all dependent on a company’s financial capabilities. Investing in a robot is a tremendous investment. Additionally, maintenance and repair costs for broken or malfunctioned robots are too high. Again, there is the programs’ cost that the company has to cater for. 

Also, in the event of data or code loss, then company operations come to a standstill, and the procedure for retrieving the lost data can be time-consuming. Ultimately, it becomes an expensive venture, that has to be well thought out before embarking on.  

2) Lack of skills sets and expertise

The education systems have not integrated robot lessons in the syllabuses. Subsequently, companies do not have the skills and expertise for operating robots. Hence, when a company decides to incorporate robots in the company operations, then it has to training its employees to enable them to operate the robots. 

Also, in the event of a robot’s breakdown, they cannot repair themselves and have to rely on external expertise to bring the robot back to its correct state. 

3) Other limitations

There is a limitation as to the tasks that a robot can perform. It cannot do all the work in the industry. Therefore, this warrants a company to communicate with the automation companies before integrating robots in their company. The talk is intent on enlightening them on the varied robot options available.

Also, the robots do not have all of its parts and elements inbuilt. Their success or failure is, therefore, determined by how well built and integrated its surrounding systems are. 

Conclusion

The benefits accruing from investing in the small industrial robots are much more and tend to cancel out its disadvantages. Therefore, there is a need for industries to embrace robot technology to enhance their production and positively influence their productivity. 

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