A food machine production line can be broken into four basic components: people, robots, industrial equipment, and data. With a deeper understanding of these four pieces, you can seamlessly connect them and create a production line that works for you.

People
First and foremost, the people who work with and around your production line are the most important part of success.

Having a team that is dedicated to constant improvement is crucial to the success of automation, since automation is, at its heart, designed to improve.

Educate your employees on the processes of automation if they aren’t directly involved in it, and hold weekly and monthly meetings with your technicians, operators, and other manufacturing workers to discuss ways to optimize the production process.

Above all, ensure that your employees feel that they are necessary for the success of your company. Their confidence and motivation will lay the foundation for a productive and expanding business.

Robots
The next component of a successful automated production line includes industrial robots.

We recommend choosing KUKA robots, FANUC robots, ABB robots, or Yaskawa Motoman robots. They are trusted name brands that have hundreds of thousands of installations worldwide.

Select an affordable used robot arm that has a high level of repeatability, a payload to carry your specific materials and products, and the correct reach to perform the work you need.

Also, consider the applications you need for your industrial robots. Do they need to perform arc welding jobs, or will they be a part of packing and palletizing your items? The applications you need will determine the end of arm tooling, or EOAT, you need for your robot. Learn more about common EOATs here.

Once you have selected your robots, you can move on to the industrial equipment that will support the production process.

Industrial equipment
Industrial robots naturally require other manufacturing equipment to run an effective production line.

Choose industrial machinery that improves energy efficiency, such as servo motors, and protects your equipment from overheating and fires, such as contact blocks and circuit breakers.

Also, consider adding automatic tool changers to your used robotic arm to speed up the production process and minimize expenses due to downtime.

While it is not directly related to industrial robots, NRTC Automation also suggests using access equipment such as platforms, stairs, and ladders to prevent injuries from falls in your manufacturing facility. Safety is our priority; it improves worker confidence and productivity while protecting workers from dangerous workplace accidents.

Data
Last but not least, data is incredibly important to the health of any production line. By tracking and analyzing data, you can trim unnecessary events and optimize your manufacturing process.

There are several tools you can use to track, view, and manage your data:

Human-Machine Interfaces

Programmable Logic Controllers

Productivity Displays

Click on the links for each tool to learn more about how these industrial computers will allow you to improve your production line with data.

All-in-one work cell
If you want the benefits of automation without the work it takes to set it up in your facility, consider adding a robotic work cell to your production line.

Robotic work cells are all-in-one automation units that can easily start working on your products shortly after installation.

We can help you automate your production line with a robotic work cell by designing, building, and engineering a custom cell according to your specific needs.