New Technology
Aerospace and Defense Manufacturers Must Prepare for the Robot Revolution
Like all manufacturers, aerospace and defense firms must engineer existing or new facilities in preparation for much higher levels of robotic automation. To do otherwise places them at a competitive disadvantage. By Josh Tuttle
R
egarding robotics, the future is the present — in that it is already here. For advanced economies, robots are providing domestic companies with the efficiency edge they need to support the reshoring trend where manufacturing production returns from lower-wage manufacturing outsourcers located in other parts of the world. But you cannot simply deploy robots into existing manufacturing plants and expect things to move smoothly. Plants must be retrofitted or even redesigned to make the most effective use of this new 24/7/365 workforce. Additionally, new plants should be built around the robotic operations to ensure safe and smooth workflows throughout the facility. Consider an aerospace or defense manufacturer that is preparing to build or renovate a facility they plan to use for the next 10, 20, 30 years or longer for multiple product lines. That building and infrastructure need to be futureproofed to ensure that, as well as being suitable for current work processes, they’ll be adaptable and cost-efficient for the newer processes that are coming. Partnering with a key robotics integrator in the planning phase is a crucial step to ensure your company has the correct floorspace, excess utilities and electrical expansion capabilities. This will also help to avoid common problems like having to upgrade a brand-new building because no one asked the right questions. Here are four ways in which aerospace and defense manufacturers can prepare for the robot revolution:
1. Leave Disappointments in the Past Robots have been available for years, and perhaps your company has tried them in the past, with results that did not impress. If so, do not remain anti-robot. Today’s robots are already better than the ones that let you down yesterday, and tomorrow’s robots will be even better still. Plus, it is not the robot that failed, but the process. All good robotic integrations are process driven with clear expectations established. If those aren’t clear at the
All good robotic integrations are process driven with clear expectations established. If those aren’t clear at the beginning of the project, it probably won’t be very clear at the end either. 28 | IMD
JULY 2022
