Collaborative robots have made it possible for businesses to enjoy the benefits that come with automation. This is because these advanced robotic systems are relatively affordable — when compared to traditional robotic systems. This, in addition to the fact that they take up less space, has made collaborative robots a go-to solution for any small or medium-sized business that seeks to harness the power of automation.
However, there are cases where some people are not entirely sold on the idea of integrating a collaborative robot into their existing processes. The most common question that one is likely to face is how to justify setting aside capital for purchasing cobots. The following are simple and straightforward cost benefits that cobots provide that explain why they are worth every cent.
Increased output
Collaborative robots work faster than human beings. They don’t get fatigued and never need any breaks. As a result, they can work at top speeds day and night to help you achieve your production goals.
On the other hand, human beings need to take frequent breaks. They cannot also maintain 24-hour schedules day in and day out. When you take these things into account, in addition to the fact that they tend to work slower than computerized robots, they are definitely not the best option as far as increasing productivity is concerned.
The increased productivity that cobots provide always leads to the advantages of margins of scale. It reduces the overall per-unit cost of production, and in the long term, this benefit alone can end up giving you a return on investment that is worth the initial investment.
Reduced rate of injuries
Repetitive tasks are a common cause of chronic joint pains. Tasks that involve lifting heavy loads are a common cause of back pain. These conditions reduce the productivity of employees. They also cost the business given the fact that these employees may need to take time off in order to get treated for these conditions. Furthermore, these injuries lead to an increase in work-related injury claims and litigation. All of these things are costly and are generally bad for a company’s bottom line.
When you deploy collaborative robots, you can program them to handle these tasks. As a result, they can free your labor force from tasks that are likely to cause injuries. Since your employees will then be free to dedicate their time to more meaningful tasks, it will increase their productivity. The drop in incidences of injury will reduce medical leave cases and any costs that are usually associated with injury claims and litigation. Overall, doing this will go a long way towards reducing your operational costs.
Improved accuracy and reduced waste
Unlike human beings, robotic systems never make mistakes. They execute the tasks that they are assigned exactly as they are programmed without any margins for error. Unlike human beings, they also do not get bored or lose concentration, things that definitely make them more consistent, accurate, and reliable than human beings.
The increased accuracy that a company gets as a result of using collaborative robots always leads to a lot of savings. This is because having fewer mistakes means that a company will have fewer defective products. This eventually ends up saving on raw materials and goes a long way in transforming a production line into becoming highly efficient.
The savings on time and materials that come with increased accuracy add up over time. Over the long run, they are usually enough to offset the cost of purchasing the cobots, especially when it comes to industries that use rare or expensive raw materials.
Low deployment costs
Unlike traditional robotic systems, collaborative robots are really easy to set up. In some cases, deploying them usually takes less than 12 hours. These robots are therefore a better alternative to traditional systems simply because they offer all the productivity advantages that traditional systems offer without the baggage of extended downtime. This makes cobots a cost-friendly option especially when you consider the opportunity costs of extended downtime.
