Assessing Whether a Production Process Is Suitable for Automation
Plan assessing whether a production process is suitable for automation around representative parts, tooling and the complete process sequence, line connections, operating limits, acceptance checks and next steps.
In brief
For assessing whether a production process is suitable for automation, start with representative parts, tooling and the complete process sequence and your full operating sequence, then check the credible part, process, cycle and recovery extremes before committing to a final layout.
Plan manufacturing automation feasibility around your parts, process, cycle time, tooling, recovery and acceptance criteria. Discuss the highest-risk feasibility questions with Oxford Industrial Automation.
On the production floor
Plan for the conditions your team handles every day — Manufacturing Automation Feasibility
Plan manufacturing automation feasibility around your parts, process, cycle time, tooling, recovery and acceptance criteria. Discuss the highest-risk feasibility questions with Oxford Industrial Automation. For assessing whether a production process is suitable for automation, the deciding details include part, product and process variation for manufacturing automation feasibility, required cycle and production pattern and run-off criteria and production evidence.
Details worth resolving early for assessing whether a production process is suitable for automation
Question 1
Part, Product and Process Variation for Manufacturing Automation Feasibility
For assessing whether a production process is suitable for automation, describe the current position, required outcome, acceptable limits and known exceptions for part, product and process variation for manufacturing automation feasibility. That lets us compare options against your real production rather than one nominal value.
Question 2
Arrival Pattern and Presentation
For assessing whether a production process is suitable for automation, describe the current position, required outcome, acceptable limits and known exceptions for arrival pattern and presentation. That lets us compare options against your real production rather than one nominal value.
Question 3
Required Cycle and Production Pattern
For assessing whether a production process is suitable for automation, describe the current position, required outcome, acceptable limits and known exceptions for required cycle and production pattern. That lets us compare options against your real production rather than one nominal value.
Question 4
Tooling, Sensing and Process Interfaces
For assessing whether a production process is suitable for automation, describe the current position, required outcome, acceptable limits and known exceptions for tooling, sensing and process interfaces. That lets us compare options against your real production rather than one nominal value.
Question 5
Operator Access, Recovery and Changeover
For assessing whether a production process is suitable for automation, describe the current position, required outcome, acceptable limits and known exceptions for operator access, recovery and changeover. That lets us compare options against your real production rather than one nominal value.
Question 6
Run-Off Criteria and Production Evidence
For assessing whether a production process is suitable for automation, describe the current position, required outcome, acceptable limits and known exceptions for run-off criteria and production evidence. That lets us compare options against your real production rather than one nominal value.
Your operating cycle
Plan for more than automatic running
Include replenishment, normal production, planned change, short stops, fault recovery, cleaning and maintenance for assessing whether a production process is suitable for automation. A fast automatic step can still leave your team with a slow or awkward overall process.
Normal production and variant changes
Replenishment and material presentation
Operator access and safe interventions
Cleaning, maintenance and recovery
Prove the result
Test assessing whether a production process is suitable for automation against representative parts, tooling and difficult cycle conditions
Normal production
Run the agreed product or part mix for assessing whether a production process is suitable for automation at your intended operating pattern.
Difficult conditions
Include credible extremes for part, product and process variation for manufacturing automation feasibility and arrival pattern and presentation.
Fault and recovery
Show how the proposed solution detects a problem affecting assessing whether a production process is suitable for automation, responds safely, informs your team and restarts under control.
Important limits
Be clear about what the trial has shown
Cycle time depends on the complete process rather than robot speed alone.
Part presentation, tolerances and recovery cases must be included in feasibility work.
Collaborative operation or automatic handling cannot be assumed safe without an application assessment.