Modern Machine Shop is focused on all aspects of metalworking technology - Providing the new product technologies; process solutions; supplier listings; business management; networking; and event information that companies need to be competitive.
Issue link: https://mms.epubxp.com/i/313389
20 MMS June 2014 mmsonline.com one-off Commentary Results from our 2014 Top Shops benchmark- ing survey indicate an increased use of machine- tending robots among successful U.S. shops. In the previous two surveys, the percentage of shops in our benchmarking group that had integrated such automated processes was in the 16- to 17-percent range. This year's survey revealed a signifcantly higher number of shops in that group had robots: 22 percent. (We'll provide a full report about the survey later in the year.) This parallels statistics recently provided by the Robotic Industries Association (RIA), which reveal two consecutive years of record robot shipments in North America. In 2013, 22,591 robots valued at $1.39 billion were shipped to North American companies, beating the 2012 record of 20,328 robots valued at $1.29 billion. FA N UC is no stra ng e r to the ad va ntag e s of automated processes, as is evident at its expansive manufacturing campus in Oshino-mura, Yamanashi, Japan, which I recently re-visited. There, more than 2,500 robots help manufacture other robots, control and drive components, and related equipment. In fact, repeatable, reliable automated processes enable the company to manufacture a whopping 125,000 servomotors each month. Although Japan is a high-wage coun- tr y, automation enables FANUC to be globally competitive with its CNC and automation products. During my visit, I spent time with Rick Schneider, president of FANUC America, who has extolled the advantages of automation for years. A decade ago, he launched the "Save Your Factory" campaign, urging North American manufacturers to recognize that, compared to offshoring, improving manufac- turing effciency here through automation, robotics and lean manufacturing is a more cost-effective and proftable alternative. The company continues its efforts to get this message out today. In fact, Mr. Schneider points to the following few factors that, like the data mentioned above, indicate that robots will become more commonplace in U.S. manufacturing facilities. • Reshoring is real. The 2014 Top Shops survey asked if shops had won work during the previous year as a result of customers' reshoring efforts, and 15 percent of them said they had. This supports anecdotal evidence I've encountered that indicates reshoring is on the rise. Mr. Schnei- der concurs, saying North American manufactur- ers today are more closely considering the actual cost of production abroad as, for example, shipping costs and labor rates in China continue to rise. These and other offshoring drawbacks are spurring an increasing number of North American compa- nies to bring production back from overseas and closer to their consumers here. The key to taking advantage of this trend is to optimize production effciency. For machine shops, this means increas- ing spindle up-time, and robotic automation offers an effective, reliable means to do that. • Robot technology is advancing. Today's robots are faster and more intelligent than in years past, and are becoming increasingly viable for small-batch/high-mix production. Mr. Schneider points to advancements in vision technology as Automation Onward Numerous factors suggest that machine-tending robots will soon be much more commonplace in U.S. shops. derek korn senior editor dkorn@mmsonline.com "is now the time to more closely consider adding robot automation?" 0614_MMS_one-off.indd 20 5/14/2014 9:59:22 AM