Change is a constant in our world and impacts the technologies we rely on to do business. New upgrades and updates to computer systems and mobile technology are an almost daily occurrence. At Innovative Automation we see change as an opportunity to grow and improve. This philosophy can be seen in our high-quality automation systems. Using this type of automation innovation will ensure that the system can grow and change with your business and that it will be compatible with tomorrow’s technology.
If chosen strategically, what you purchase today can integrate with the technology of tomorrow and help you maintain a competitive advantage even when you don’t know what demand will be down the line. At Innovative Automation, our team of engineers, designers and machine builders consider what you need and what the best technological fit is, all while strategically including flexibility and opportunities to add and integrate growth. We call them these professionals “scalability architects” as they design a system that can withstand the winds of change and provide your business with the security of productivity and a competitive advantage that ensures an ongoing return on investment.
Creating a System that’s Scalable
Like a human team consisting of individuals with specialized skills and abilities, an automation system consists of smaller subsystems, with each part providing a specific outcome. Think of them as specialized employee units. These automated components can be small or grow larger, depending on the changing demands. These subsystems should be flexible, and easily interchanged or adapted so that your business can respond to market changes. Standard modules should be totally reusable, which makes the investment rewarding technically as well as economically.
The term “scale agility” refers to changing the scale to respond to increasing or decreasing loads. If demand for a product has changed then the design – or architecture – should enable you to add or remove components or resources quickly, without having to modify other components function or process. Related to this is “flexibility”, which refers to a system’s ability to change its behavior without changing its configuration. This reduces downtime and minimizes production stops and losses.
Working with OEMs and tier-one manufacturers
As our automation engineering teams design your automation solution, we will examine where you are now, your goals and the best route to achieving them. Innovative Automation has over 25 years of experience in automotive, automated, assembly systems and test systems. We only work with top original equipment manufacturers and tier-one manufacturers to create a customized automation solution for your company’s production needs. With these industry-leading connections, we deliver complete, on-time and first-time quality systems that quickly begin to pay back your investment.
Our teams help you see, understand and shape the system as we imagine, problem-solve and create. Whether you are looking to transition partially to automation, move to fully automate or add a component for a new product, we build using Proof of Principle (PoP) analysis. We develop 2D layouts, 3D animations or dynamic simulations. We develop prototypes so you can see and understand the key design concepts, whether virtual models, semi-automated prototypes or physical prototypes that can be scaled up.
Collaborating with your team
Human-machine collaboration brings together the speed and precision of a robot, with the insights and perceptions of a human. No machine can replace the insights humans provide after having analyzed data to increase productivity. Having an understanding of what causes overtime or short shipments, our engineers can then harness extra efficiency that will enable you to invest more in research and development. Designing the most appropriate automation system is the start of a cycle that allows us to create the next innovation, making technology respond to our needs.
Automation machine design can also support your staff and enhance their productivity and enjoyment of their work. For example, Scott Fetzer Electrical, used collaborative robots to assist in wire trimming processes. This allowed the company to eliminate ergonomic issues related to repetitive strain during manual wire cutting and avert associated health care costs. Their automation solution also increased productivity, as the employee did not suffer fatigue or repetitive strain. Using technology to support your team boosts morale and increases productivity.
Similar to the ‘smart home’, we now also have ‘smart factories’. Businesses can increase their productivity by using flexible and modular factories with systems that connect and communicate. These information-revolutionized factories use connectivity to enable your management team to remotely monitor and control systems. The internet of things – or IoT – gives us performance data, which our scalability engineers use in design.
Harnessing technology for your goals
Our goal is to get the most out of technology and ensure that it’s adaptable enough to work with tomorrow’s unknown challenges and opportunities. The Innovative Automation team includes in-house designers, master electricians, electrical engineers and senior-level controls programmers that all work together with this goal in mind. We enable you see your automated solution in two or 3D models, prototypes and simulations before turning the design into an adaptable, resilient and productivity-enhancing part of your business.