Small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises (SMEs) face a series of challenges that can limit their growth and competitiveness in the global market. These challenges include high bureaucratic burdens, lack of access to advanced technologies, and difficulties in obtaining adequate financing. However, the implementation of robotic automation offers effective solutions to overcome these barriers and boost the development of SMEs.
Common Challenges for Manufacturing SMEs
One of the main obstacles faced by SMEs is the regulatory and bureaucratic burden. According to an article in El País, small businesses must deal with an increasing and changing number of tax and labor regulations, which can affect their operations and competitiveness.
Additionally, in countries like Colombia, the predominance of micro-enterprises limits their dynamism and makes them vulnerable. These companies represent 95% of businesses, but their contribution to GDP is only 35%. The lack of access to credit and technology limits their growth and productivity.
Solutions through Robotic Automation
Robotic automation, especially through the use of collaborative robots or “cobots,” offers multiple benefits for SMEs:
- Increased Productivity: Cobots can perform repetitive tasks with high precision and efficiency, freeing employees to focus on higher value-added activities. For example, the Canadian company Paradigm Electronics increased its productivity by 50% by implementing cobots in its polishing processes.
- Reduction of Operating Costs: Automation can reduce costs associated with human errors and improve energy efficiency. JVC Electronics Indonesia managed to reduce its annual operating costs by more than $80,000 by adopting cobots in assembly tasks.
- Improvement in Product Quality: The consistency and precision of cobots ensure high-quality products, reducing defects and returns. The company Mann+Hummel Ibérica implemented cobots in its production lines, improving its processes and maintaining high quality standards.
- Flexibility and Adaptability: Cobots are easy to program and can adapt to different tasks, which is ideal for SMEs that require versatility in their production processes. Additionally, their installation is quick and does not require major modifications to existing production lines.
Success Story: Mann+Hummel Ibérica
Mann+Hummel Ibérica, the Spanish subsidiary of the German group leader in filtration and plastic components for the automotive industry, faced the need to reduce costs and increase its competitiveness. To achieve this, they implemented three collaborative applications using UR10 cobots from Universal Robots:
- Welding of Parts: The cobot synchronizes the loading and unloading of the welding machine, reducing the cycle time from 16 to 10 seconds.
- Machine Transfer: The cobot transfers parts between the welding machine and the verification machine, delivering the parts directly to the operator at the precise moment.
- Transfer between Different Machines: The cobot handles the transfer of parts between two different machines, interacting with the operator through a light system that indicates the process status.
The integration of these cobots allowed Mann+Hummel Ibérica to increase its productivity and improve the efficiency of its processes, positioning itself as a benchmark in the automotive industry.
Robotic automation presents itself as an essential tool for manufacturing SMEs to overcome traditional challenges and adapt to the demands of the current market. The implementation of cobots not only improves efficiency and reduces costs but also allows companies to focus on innovation and sustainable growth. Adopting these technologies is a strategic step towards modernization and competitiveness in the manufacturing sector.
For more information on how URT can help your company implement robotic solutions, visit URT here and discover how we can transform your manufacturing process.