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Which job characteristics make a factory task suitable for industrial robots?
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At the top of the machine is a stack of punched cards that would be fed into the loom to control the weaving pattern. This method of automatically issuing machine instructions was employed by computers well into the 20th century.
Industrial robots are frequently employed to replace human labor in factory settings when specific job characteristics make the work better suited for automation. According to automation standards, a task is typically a strong candidate for a robot if it meets the following criteria:
- Repetitive nature: The operation involves the same basic motions during every work cycle.1
- Hazardous or uncomfortable conditions: The work environment or process poses risks or discomfort to human workers, such as tasks involving spray painting, spot welding, or arc welding.1
- Physical demands: The task requires handling work parts or tools that are heavy, awkward, or otherwise difficult for a human to manage.1
- Operational efficiency: The nature of the operation allows for the robot to be utilized across two or three shifts, maximizing productivity.1
Additionally, successful robotic integration often depends on product design. Tasks that are easily performed by humansāsuch as fastening with screws and nutsācan be extremely difficult for robots, whereas designs utilizing snap fits or one-step fastening procedures are significantly easier to automate.1