一. Is it necessary to put automation equipment into the process? Generally, consider introducing automation equipment to replace manual operation in the following cases:

1. Poor working environment, such as spraying and welding operations;

2. Manual operation makes product quality unstable or fails to meet customer requirements;

3. The product is large or heavy, and manual operation is difficult.

4. The production cycle and life of the product are long. For automation that is only for the purpose of saving manpower, I personally recommend careful evaluation.

二. Is the process suitable for putting automation equipment in place?

1. Stability of components: Is the quality of the products flowing from the upstream stable? If the components are unstable, the quality of the products processed by the equipment may be worse than that of manual labor, and it may also cause frequent downtime of the equipment.

2. Complexity of operation: The complexity of the operation determines the cost of automation equipment and the feasibility of automation equipment technology. Even for industrial robots, complex assembly operations are difficult to achieve.

3. Packaging method of components: If you want to achieve automatic loading, you need to change the original packaging method so that the loading mechanical device can grab the components. The cost increase caused by changing the packaging method needs to be calculated into the automation cost.

4. Separability of components: If you want to achieve automatic loading, you need to evaluate the separability of components. Especially for some small parts, such as screws.

III. How can automation design meet the requirements of lean model

1. Use small single-task equipment instead of large multi-task equipment; the more complex the equipment, the higher the cost, the worse the reliability, and the lower the flexibility to cope with changes in demand;

2. Do not blindly pursue high-speed equipment. The efficiency of the equipment should be based on the principle of meeting demand and ensuring product quality.

3. Try to avoid batch processing equipment. Although batch processing equipment has certain advantages in efficiency, it will hinder flow and make the production cycle too long. The second thing to pay attention to when purchasing non-standard automation equipment is the after-sales service. Once a machine like this with a high price has a problem and needs to be repaired, it will be a considerable expense. Therefore, everyone needs to choose an automation equipment manufacturer with good after-sales service. They can not only provide door-to-door delivery and installation services for the purchaser, but also immediately repair the machine if any problem occurs during use, so as to minimize the impact of the machine on the purchaser's production activities. The third thing to pay attention to when purchasing non-standard automation equipment is the price. Price is a very sensitive topic. I believe that all buyers hope to spend less money to buy better equipment. However, we all know that price and product quality are linked. Therefore, we should not blindly be greedy for small profits and buy those cheap machines. Although these machines are relatively cheap when purchased, they are definitely not as good as those slightly more expensive ones during use. These machines also cost a lot of money in the later maintenance and repair.