Shortage of labor is an end-of-line packaging problem that has grown over the years. Consumer packaged goods have been negatively affected by this trend. According to a study by Deloitte and the manufacturing institute, the onset of Covid 19 alone is responsible for a loss of more than 1.4 million jobs.
Even though you can prevent this scenario by incorporating automation in your work process, the right type, and place to do this matters. For instance, a low-cost and relatively easy introduction of automation may be in the packaging line. Here, Cobots can work together with only a few staff in your tray packing and loader process, case packaging, or any other end-of-line packaging process you may be using.
The CoronaVirus epidemic isn’t the only factor responsible for the shortage of labor. Consumer packaged goods as an industry have been experiencing a boom due to the growth of eCommerce.
Small scale companies are now serious players both for market share and the limited amount of labor available. The competition creates a strain on the packaging industry and makes the creation of retail-ready packaging difficult to achieve.
Without effective labor, there will be no means of advancing the production process. Labor is arguably the most important factor in the consumer packaged goods industry. Whether executed by human or robotic packaging automation, the efficiency of the labor used in the production of consumer packaged goods is a key determinant of its quality.
If your company is facing a challenge of labor shortage, a sustainable approach is a preferable option. Aside from reducing cost and giving you the room to improve on innovation and business growth, sustainability will give your company an edge in brand equity.
An increase in consumer demand and a decline in the availability of labor have made the production of consumer packaged goods reliant on robotic packaging automation. Manufacturers have to fall back on robots because there simply aren’t enough people to cover their labor needs.
Cooperative robots (cobots) are a wonderful application to the packaging process. Their ability to take over repetitive tasks and reduce your cost of operation over the long term is a clear advantage. They are unlike the conventional robots kept out of reach in protective enclosures. Cobots are designed to work alongside humans. Their multifunctional usability and flexible application set them apart from other machines in the packaging automation process for consumer packaged goods.
A cobot can easily be programmed to work together with employees as a tray packer, case loader, or other types of packaging automation.
The rise of product customization and the need for a flexible workspace are some of the novel shifts in manufacturing. Other trends brought about by the pandemic and change in consumer behavior are creating a greater need for humans and machines to work together. Some of the advantages Collaborative Robots bring to the table include:
Cobots can take the danger away from employees in potentially harmful manufacturing situations. Unlike normal robots, Cobots are interactive. They are designed to work alongside and not replace humans. A Cobot has built-in sensors that enable it to stop in its tracks on sensing a human.
Cobots can easily share the same space with your employees. Cobots don’t necessarily replace employees within a factory. Instead, they are a good way to maintain the quality of your outputs. Cobots can be used as a tool to eliminate variations from the output of packaging lines caused by human error.
Cobots are more flexible than conventional robots. They can easily be moved around and reassigned to handle different tasks. A cobot can serve as a tray packing machine at one end of the packaging line and as a case loader at another.
The easy programming and low operating cost that come with Cobots will enable you to recoup the amount spent on acquiring one within a short period.
As Specialized robots, cobots can work together with your employees to produce an effective packaging line. Their visual and tactile sensors enable them to safely cohabit the same working area as your employees with minimal risk of accidents.
A good application of cobots is to use them as a tool to help your efficiency in business management. Cobots can work at constant speeds for long periods. You can use this advantage to reliably calculate your production metrics.
Cobots can be disassembled and easily reconfigured. In addition to being able to move a unit around, you can also have it mounted on walls, ceilings, or tabletops. Most cobots come with portable control boxes with an interactive user interface that is not difficult to manipulate.
Robotic packaging automation has been touted as the future of packaging. Cobots can be used as case packing machinery for tray packing, cartooning, and boxing. They can be programmed in-house to work alone or together with existing employees.
A good first step to take while integrating a cobot system in your packaging line is to determine the best scenario for its application. Having a well-thought budget and integration plan will help you make the most of working with cobots on your packaging line.
While Cooperative robots may not be ideal for every situation, your unwillingness to consider using them may stop you from achieving your full potential. Integrating cobots into your tray packing and loader or wrap-around packaging systems has the potential of fostering sustainable growth in production.
You can begin your journey in cooperative robots packaging automation by taking a look at the solutions we provide.
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