The Implementation of Industrial Robots in a Manufacturing Organisation

Abstract

This thesis is concerned with the implementation of industrial robots within the manufacturing industry. Its basis is an action-research study of the method by which an international food company adopted robot technology, carried out from the novel perspective of a direct participant in the adoption process. Previous studies of robot adoption are shown to concentrate on particular aspects of the implementation process without providing the overall view that industry needs. In contrast, this study took the original approach of synthesizing the organizational, financial, and technical aspects of the implementation process within a common framework. Identification and assessment of the opportunities for applying robotics, preparation of detailed design solutions, and development and implementation of the first production system were carried out. It was found that many potential applications were not cost-effective and required excessive floorspace in comparison with conventional manufacturing methods. It was also found that integration of the robot systems and organizational resistance to change were significant factors. Furthermore, the poor cost-effectiveness of the robot systems was due to: The inadequacy of payback appraisal in accounting for qualitative factors; The short-term assessment of robot applications as discrete projects; The need for high levels of ancillary tooling Novel outline specifications for robot systems to meet the food industry's special needs were derived, along with an alternative method of financial appraisal, a new parameter for assessing robot system design, and an original plan of work for managing robot implementation projects. It is concluded that a longer-term planning orientation, which links the implementation of robotics to the company's business strategy, along with an integrated approach to managing the adoption process, are crucial to successful robot use.