I simply wrapped up a manufacturing unit acceptance take a look at (FAT) in Spain with a worldwide participant within the private care and shopper items business. It was easy—so easy, in reality, that their group needed to rebook flights house as a result of we completed forward of schedule.
Now, I do know what you’re pondering: if it was that simple, it most likely wasn’t thrilling. And technically, you’re proper. This mission wasn’t difficult from an engineering standpoint. However from a deployment and long-term technique perspective? It was spot-on.
Right here’s why beginning easy was precisely the suitable transfer, each for them and for us.
Low complexity, excessive alternative
This was the primary robotic deployed of their whole group. It’s a low-speed, low-stack palletizing utility: about three packing containers per minute, inflexible cardboard, simple structure. For my technical facet, nothing to get fired up about.
However from a enterprise standpoint, it is a launchpad. We’re speaking a couple of world group with a number of factories throughout Europe. This primary set up is a take a look at case. If it goes effectively, we’re taking a look at repeat deployments in websites with greater velocity necessities, tighter footprints, and totally different security constraints.
So sure, it’s easy. But it surely’s additionally the important thing to scaling automation throughout their community.
A lean robotics strategy from day one
This buyer had some consciousness of Lean Robotics already, which made the dialog even smoother. Collectively, we agreed: let’s begin small, deploy quick, and reduce threat.
The mission matches completely within the “inexperienced zone”—low threat, low complexity, and excessive worth. That allowed us to:
- keep away from safeguards (an enormous tradition shift for them)
- preserve the prevailing structure
- cut back friction throughout the deployment
Every part on this first section was about constructing belief and displaying what’s doable when automation is completed proper.
Easy does not imply challenge-free
Despite the fact that the robotic utility itself was easy, we nonetheless needed to navigate a whole lot of complexity—simply of a unique form. When working with a big, world firm, you’re not simply fixing for automation. You’re fixing for change.
We needed to interact with stakeholders from IT, security, upkeep, and procurement. Everybody had totally different objectives, KPIs, and views. One particular person can greenlight the appliance, but when the security lead isn’t on boa (or the manufacturing unit operator spots a difficulty late within the sport) issues decelerate quick.
We managed it effectively, however I’ll say this: the sooner you’ll be able to meet these stakeholders, the higher. A number of the suggestions we obtained throughout FAT (like field orientation changes) got here from native operators who understood the method higher than anybody. These insights have been important, and would’ve been much more helpful earlier on.
Why flexibility issues
As a result of we used Robotiq’s customary palletizing answer, we may adapt actually shortly.
Throughout FAT, they requested for 4 or 5 modifications. Field orientation. Pace changes. A tweak in drive. Every change took 5 minutes or much less. No rewriting code. No delays. We stayed on observe and accomplished the complete FAT in at some point.
Their group advised us this was the smoothest FAT they’ve ever carried out. That’s not only a win for us—it’s a robust sign that standardization and ease go hand in hand whenever you’re laying the muse for broader automation.
What’s subsequent?
This was simply the 1st step. Extra advanced websites coming: some that require velocity, others that demand extra superior security setups. However that’s the place our modular, brand-agnostic platform actually shines.
We are able to help collaborative purposes like this one and scale as much as higher-speed, extra demanding traces—all whereas retaining the identical software program surroundings and core parts. That consistency is strictly what prospects want once they’re planning multi-site rollouts.
Remaining ideas
For those who’re dealing with resistance to automation, whether or not it’s from security groups, IT, or operators who’ve been doing issues the identical means for many years, begin easy. Allow them to see the robotic in motion. Allow them to really feel how simple it’s to adapt. That’s how you alter minds and shift tradition.
This mission jogged my memory that “simple” on paper doesn’t all the time imply “simple” in actual life. However when the tech is versatile and the group is aligned, it actually might be.
Wish to see in case your mission matches the “inexperienced zone”?
Attempt our Palletizing Match Software to determine low-risk, high-reward automation alternatives.
