Cobots Can Augment SMBs’ Growth: Sougandh K.M., Universal Robots
Automation is fast gaining traction amongst SMBs across the length and breadth of India as it ushers in era of Industry 4.0. Part of the automation puzzle is being addressed by collaborative robots (cobots), which hold promise and can address the many issues of labour shortages, employee safety, and affordability for SMBs.
BW Businessworld got in touch with Sougandh K.M., Country Manager of India, Universal Robots, to understand more about the applications of cobots and how they are being deployed across industries by SMBs. Read on for excerpts from the interview.
Excerpts:
How can cobots help Indian SMBs?
One of the key benefits of collaborative robots or cobots is their ability to work alongside human employees without safety cages (subjected to risk assessment). Deploying large and bulky machines on factory floors with limited space is a constraint for SMBs. In this case, cobots are space-friendly and do not require large spaces or additional safety fences, unlike traditional industrial robots.
Indian SMBs are labour-intensive and have a great scope for expansion. Cobots are flexible, versatile and cost-effective. The ease of use of cobots enables flexible automation in SMBs. Besides, SMBs need to understand that cobots deliver a fast payback of their investment. Universal Robots offers an average payback period as short as 12 months, giving SMBs the advantages of advanced robotics automation with no traditional added costs associated with robot programming and setup.
Cobots’ ease of programming has created tremendous advancements in industrial processes, adding substantial flexibility to meet human problem-solving needs. They allow SMBs to grow in measured steps so that they can maintain competitiveness in a global landscape without taking on undesirable risks.
How have cobots impacted the Indian business ecosystem in recent times?
In India, companies have seen tremendous growth in their productivity and efficiency after the deployment of cobots in their production lines. Cobots are an affordable automation solution for Indian SMBs. They have penetrated various sectors of the economy, including electrical, food and beverage, metal and machinery, automotive and many more.
With cobots’ capability of working 24/7 round the clock without human errors caused by fatigue, productivity on the factory floor has risen significantly. In addition, the deployment of cobots has lowered the operational risks and improved manufacturing processes.
Cobot automation in India started in the year 2010 with Bajaj Auto deploying Universal robots cobots in their production lines. Thereafter, more companies such as Aurolab, CATI, L’Oréal in Pune, Shruti Engineers, and Shree Laxmi Agro have integrated cobots in their production lines to conduct multiple processes and remain competitive in the global market.
What key challenges can cobots address when it comes to automotive production?
The automotive industry is among the first adopters of robotic technology. For years, cobots have been introduced to the manufacturing processes, resulting in a massive growth in the adoption of cobots in the automotive industry. One of the main challenges often faced by manufacturers in the automotive industry include the reliance on manual labour in assembly processes. As cobots are great at conducting tasks involving small items such as screw driving and fittings, cobots are taking over such mundane tasks, relieving human workers to work on better and more exciting jobs. Besides, cobots are addressing challenges faced due to limited space constraints. Cobots can be deployed alongside humans without safety fences after necessary risk assessment, ensuring that production floors with limited spaces can deploy a cobot.
Additionally, cobots are beneficial in reducing unplanned downtime due to human errors in the production lines, further resulting in increased productivity and increased efficiency.
Cobots are an important part of Industry 4.0. What does the future look like for cobots in India?
Industries across the globe have seen a significant increase in productivity by deploying automation solutions in their production lines. Cobots are versatile and flexible, reaping multiple benefits for the manufacturers. The Indian manufacturing sector has great scope for expansion and with technological advances, cobots present an optimistic future for manufacturers. This human-robot collaboration has been widely accepted across India.
The relegation of the repetitive, rigorous and hazardous task to cobots from human workers has allowed humans to focus on higher-value and rewarding tasks. Moreover, cobots have been recognised as a cost-effective solution. With low maintenance costs required and the fast payback of investment, cobots provide manufacturers with a competitive advantage.
While India remains a developing country with many thriving SMBs, the combination of cobots’ various benefits along with humans’ cognitive skills makes them perfect for collaboration. As cobots permeate the Indian market, large corporations and SMBs will continue to reap the rewards of cobots.
