Collaborative robots, according to those who have used them are viewed as positive additions to the workers in the factory rather than their replacement.
Traditional robots on the other hand are slowly by slowly leaving the factory floor to human workers and the much smaller and easy to work with cobot.
As a result, companies are experiencing benefits that can only be gained by using cobots, while more workers are also staying on their jobs and even getting higher level jobs as cobots take over some of the boring repetitive tasks, but keep the workers in the factory to monitor and improve tasks and systems.
The traditional factory, fenced off robots while the modern and future factory will have human workers and robots working together in the robot assembly process.
How Collaborative Robots are bringing human beings back into the factory
They are taking over ergonomically unfavorable tasks
Cobots are taking over tasks that would be harmful to human factory workers. For example factories that handle hazardous material can now assign those tasks to cobots. This leads to human workers having less exposure to the materials that could be harmful to their health. Another example is in carrying out physically strenuous activity. Automakers are now using wearable robots to enhance the grip of human workers as they affix tires and other parts to the vehicle during assembly. This ensures that the human worker does not strain themselves and risk injury.
They are taking over boring and repetitive tasks
Collaborative robots are acquired by factories to improve the morale and motivation of their workers.
They do this by assigning repetitive tasks such as polishing, painting, welding and pick and place tasks to the cobot. Once these tasks are eliminated from the human workers schedule, they are now capable to stay on in the factory and apply their expertise to improve the factories’ working processes. This is a more mentally engaging and dynamic task than handling a repetitive task every day.
Cobots allow factory workers to engage in more complex tasks within the factory setting to help improve on the processes and quality of products.
They are safe and easy to work with
Unlike traditional robots, cobots are safe and easy to work with. They are designed to ensure that they cannot cause injury to their human colleagues. Collaborative robots are designed with round edges to reduce injuries to the person who touches it while working on the factory floor. In addition, cobots are designed to stop or reduce their speeds whenever they sense that a human being is in their working area which could lead to injury.
They enhance production efficiency
Being robots, collaborative robots can outwork any human worker. They do not need breaks and can work long hours. As a result, factories experience increased rates of production. This then leads to an increase in employees needed to ensure that the product reaches the market. These new employees will be charged with the tasks of sales, marketing and other tasks related to products and revenue management.
In addition, cobots improve the quality of products produced, thus saving on production costs and increasing the appeal and value of the product to potential customers.
They are highly precise and accurate
Collaborative robots are highly precise and accurate in production. As a result, they help factories reduce wastage and defective products. This leads to increased production and lower production costs which can then be used to hire more people or increase the wages of the factory workers and thus raise their working and living standards.
They handle multiple tasks in the factory
Collaborative robots handle multiple tasks in the factory setting. Cobots are able to do this through programming. This programming can only be carried out by a human colleague. Cobots have a simple and easy to use interface, through which they are given instructions on how to carry out different tasks. In addition, they are easy to move around and to also feed instructions when changing over from one task to another.
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