Industry Insights: A Conversation on Manufacturing Automation

With David Brooksbank, Robotics Sales Engineer (North East), RARUK Automation.

David Brooksbank is an experienced sales and business development professional with over two decades of experience in industrial manufacturing, automation and engineering. His expertise includes process validation, automation adoption, business development, account management and helping manufacturers identify and implement credible technologies that improve productivity and efficiency.

In this article, David discusses the barriers preventing manufacturers from investing in automation today, how the conversation has changed in the last 5 years and how emerging technologies are having an impact on industrial applications.

In your experience, what are the biggest barriers currently preventing manufacturers from adopting automation?

I would say that most manufacturers struggle to even find the time to review the options, as people have changing priorities, and are busy doing their daily jobs. Investment restrictions are also an issue, as is general uncertainty for the business as a whole, and of course uncertainty around the implementation of a new system and whether it will deliver what was promised.

Has the conversation around automation changed in the last 5 years?

Yes, cost has become a bigger factor for the assessment of automation, as well as the ability to start the journey or expand on current automated systems. End users have much more choice than ever before: the market has become increasingly competitive, with a wider range of solutions available at different price points to consider.

How much of a challenge is the upfront investment required for automation and what strategies can help overcome this?

This has been and will always be a challenge, however with global instability and general economic uncertainty, with the exception of defence, customers new and old are taking the time to review as many options as possible.

Understandably, businesses must weigh up initial investment costs with long-term value, all while trying to keep total cost of ownership (TCO) down. A solution that is cheaper upfront is almost certainly going to be more costly as time goes on, due to more downtime, higher maintenance costs and limited technical support when things go wrong.

To alleviate some of the commercial pressures there are a range of financing options, as well as grants, that manufacturers can access to help relieve these challenges. This is something we will be discussing further at the North East Manufacturing Innovation Forum in October.

Many manufacturers worry about disruption to production. How valid are these concerns, and how can they be mitigated?

Some manufacturers do worry about this; however, I often find there is more of a concern that the automation solution will not do what is promised. To mitigate these concerns, and others, I would recommend that manufacturers speak to people that offer credible, sound advice on the project with as much data as possible to support the proposal and expected implications for the installation. With a strong UK-based support network, short lead times, fast deployment and intuitive operation, UR robots can be implemented quickly and effectively within a well-planned project. This helps minimise downtime, reduces disruption to existing operations and ensures a smooth transition to automation.

Are there any misconceptions about the relationship between automation and workplace safety that you'd like to challenge?

I think the change to the latest ISO standards, and upcoming changes to the machinery directive to link cyber security to safety, has, in some way, helped to clear up some of the misconceptions regarding safety, however there can be no shortcut to a safe system. Universal Robots’ range has long been designed with integrated force limiting, built-in risk-reduction tools and certified safety functions, all of which directly map onto the ISO standards. Now, safety not only applies to the mechanics of a safe system but also to the integrity of the software and hardware that supports cyber resilient systems. UR’s PolyScope X programming software for UR robots is a secure and actively maintained platform.

What role do emerging technologies such as AI, machine vision and collaborative robots play in overcoming traditional automation barriers?

This is a very interesting side of automation. In some cases, AI can be promoted as a catch-all term, so it's important to focus on the specific capabilities being delivered. Many of the underlying technologies have a long history in automation, but recent developments have made them more powerful and practical in industrial applications. At RARUK Automation, some of the systems we offer use AI to great effect and can be applied to processes and solutions, speeding up deployment time, while reducing risks, offering flexibility to solutions and spreading the capital investment across more tasks.

If you could recommend one action that would accelerate automation adoption across UK manufacturing, what would it be?

Seek advice from experienced and reputable automation specialists with a proven track record of delivering successful automation projects.

For more conversations like this, join David at the upcoming North East Manufacturing Innovation Forum, on the 21st of October at MADE NE, Sunderland.

Click here to register.