Robotics
Dr. Rizauddin Ramli
1
Automation and Robotics‐KKKP6513 RR2010
Ch 1 Introduction
Sections:
1. Production Systems
2. Automation in Production Systems
3. Manual Labor in Production Systems
4. Automation Principles and Strategies
2
Automation and Robotics‐KKKP6513 RR2010
The Realities of Modern
Manufacturing
• Globalization - Once underdeveloped countries
(e.g., China, India, Mexico) are becoming major players in manufacturing
• International outsourcing - Parts and products once made in the United States by American companies are now being made offshore
(overseas) or near-shore (in Mexico and Central
America)
• Local outsourcing - Use of suppliers within the
U.S. to provide parts and services
3
Automation and Robotics‐KKKP6513 RR2010
Reason of local outsourcing
• Benefits from suppliers that specialize in certain production technique
• Lower labor rates in smaller companies
• Limitations of available in-house manufacturing capabilities 4
Automation and Robotics‐KKKP6513 RR2010
More Realities of Modern
Manufacturing
• Contract manufacturing - Companies that specialize in manufacturing entire products, not just parts, under contract to other companies
• Trend toward the service sector in the U.S. economy
-Low demand in direct jobs in manufacturing; high demand in service industries
• Quality expectations - Customers, both consumer and corporate, demand products of the highest quality
• Need for operational efficiency - U.S. manufacturers must be efficient in in their operations to overcome the labor cost advantage of international competitors
5
Automation and Robotics‐KKKP6513 RR2010
Modern Manufacturing
Approaches and Technologies
• Automation - automated equipment instead of labor
• Material handling technologies - because manufacturing usually involves a sequence of activities
• Manufacturing systems - integration and coordination of multiple automated or