▲ Designing robotization of cutting process by using 3D CAD
Since the pandemic of the COVID-19, the Thai manufacturing industry has been exposed to the outflow of skilled personnel and the frequent fluctuation in order volume. A major trend in the industry has been to establish production systems that do not rely on human labor through process compression by combining machinings and automation of manufacturing processes (FA).
Since the pandemic of the COVID-19, the Thai manufacturing industry has been exposed to the outflow of skilled personnel and the frequent fluctuation in order volume. A major trend in the industry has been to establish production systems that do not rely on human labor through process compression by combining machinings and automation of manufacturing processes (FA).
Labor saving / FA (automation) concept proposed by YMTT
Currently, the labor problems faced by Thai manufacturing industry who experienced the hardship of the pandemic at their manufacturing sites are generally typified by the following two types of problems.
Difficulty in employing workers from neighboring countries such as Myanmar, making it difficult to secure simple workers.
Skilled personnel that have been trained over time do not return to work after furloughs during lockdowns, resulting in poor productivity and quality.
In addition, finished goods manufacturers, who are the customers of parts manufacturers, are also aware of the social environment in which it is difficult to secure a stable supply of workers. In such an environment, having a process that can continue production with stable quality and efficiency is a major advantage as a parts supplier. However, while worker problems are generally considered to be solved through automation using robots and the like, in many cases, the simple, partial "human-to-robot replacement" has run into a question over its return on investment, and many companies are reluctant to take the plunge. In such cases, we direct our attention on the "creation of secondary added value other than the main objective by reforming the process from a bird's eye view of the customer's problem," and propose a concept.
for example…
1.Unable to secure cargo handling manpower for palletizing
Main objectiv:Robotization solves manpower problems
Process reform:Change to layered transfer instead of single-piece transfer
Secondary added value:Significantly faster speeds and dramatically increased shipping capacity
2.Rapid turnover of machine tool operators and inability to keep up with work training
Main Objective:Unmanned operation of workpiece loading/unloading to/from machine tool and in-process inspection
Process reform:Feedback of in-process inspection results to the NC of the machine tool, automatic correction of machining parameters, and external output of inspection result logs.
Secondary added value:Automatic generation of statistical data of inspection results without human judgment.Statistical data on tool life can also be visualized.
By incorporating secondary effects such as long-term stable operation and improved productivity, rather than simply investing in place of labor costs, we can contribute to the creation of added value for our customers that goes beyond cost reduction.
▲ High-speed palletizing system for a beverage manufacturer using a large robot
YMTT's Initiative: Fostering Excellent Human Resources in Thailand
YYMTT actively provides educational opportunities and invests in human resource development in order to nurture talented engineers. Local engineers who have grown up under Japanese engineers stationed in Thailand are already capable of working with all Japanese robot manufacturers and have acquired the ability to fully respond to customer requests. We can respond to inquiries from Japanese customers in Japanese and to Thai customers in Thai.
Many of our customers in Thailand are implementing robots for the first time. YMTT will propose equipment that is adequately rigid and can be used stably for a long period of time, pay attention without skimping on every detail that are difficult to show in the price.