In addition to the crucial, value-adding machining and assembly processes, EOAT solutions such as integrated robot grippers or even vacuum spiders can also influence overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) and optimize production processes. This article sheds light on how EOAT can contribute to achieving a high OEE and highlights the most important levers in terms of availability, performance, and quality.
In industrial production, OEE is a key performance indicator for representing the productivity of an entire system. It is made up of three factors:
1. Availability: The time in which systems are ready for use.
2. Performance: The speed at which production takes place.
3. Quality: The proportion of products without defects.
End effectors that handle sheet metal parts in production influence all three factors. From quick changeovers to safe handling, they offer project planners and designers numerous starting points for increasing production efficiency.
Frequent product changes and a wide range of variants are the norm in the automotive industry. A flexible EOAT solution such as an adjustable pneumatic or mechanical robot gripper enables quick and easy retooling. Instead of time-consuming installations, the gripping range of a vacuum spider, for example, can be automatically adjusted using integrated adjustment components.
The result: Minimized set-up times optimize system availability and sustainably increase productivity.
Unplanned downtimes are a productivity killer. Components for modern EOAT solutions are robust and durable, contributing to trouble-free operation. In addition, by monitoring status data such as pressure, vacuum level, or the presence of components in real time, potentially hazardous situations can be detected at an early stage and countermeasures can be implemented. Digital monitoring systems not only enable higher availability, but also ensure greater transparency and predictability in the production process.
EOAT systems with components from Festo are not only powerful, but also energy-efficient. Vacuum spiders with optimized air consumption reduce energy requirements without compromising on performance. This not only reduces production costs, but also contributes to the energy efficiency of the production processes, and thus to minimized resource consumption per workpiece. This approach turns the increase in production efficiency into a measurable competitive advantage.
Another important capability of automated production is flexibility. Integrated robot grippers, which can implement different gripping or clamping points, enable the continuous transfer of different workpiece sizes or geometries without any loss of performance. This versatility turns a flexible EOAT solution into a performance-enhancing tool in versatile automotive production.
Example: In the automated assembly of car body parts, adjustable gripper configurations can be programmed for different component geometries, eliminating changeover times. Parts with different formats can be picked up and passed on immediately. This flexibility through automatically adjustable end effectors supports smooth production and ensures maximum production planning.
Whether ejecting defective parts or ensuring repeatable positioning during the transfer of workpieces – EOAT makes a significant contribution to ensuring product quality. By handling workpieces safely and precisely, damage can be avoided and the quality of the results maintained. This is particularly important in the automotive industry, where high demands are placed on dimensional accuracy and surface quality.
Contamination from paint-wetting disruptive substances in automation components is a known problem when handling body parts to be painted. Materials that are free from paint-wetting disruptive substances in seals and plastic parts as well as special coatings on gripper components ensure unimpaired painting results and prevent unnecessary rejects. This not only saves costs, but also increases the value of production through a higher proportion of saleable products.
By using sensors in EOAT systems, production data can be recorded and analyzed in real time. This data helps to detect errors at an early stage and ensure product quality. Particularly in automotive production, where tolerance chains are demanding and quality requirements are high, this technology offers a reliable method of avoiding quality problems and reducing scrap at the same time.
In addition to the classic OEE factors, the topic of sustainability is becoming increasingly important in the automotive industry. Modern EOAT solutions such as energy-optimized vacuum spiders reduce the consumption of resources and contribute to more environmentally friendly production. This not only enables compliance with legal requirements, but also meets the expectations of customers and investors who are placing increasing value on sustainable processes.
The use of digital technologies in combination with EOAT solutions offers new opportunities for optimizing production processes. With the help of IoT-enabled robot grippers, condition monitoring and predictive servicing can be implemented efficiently. Real-time data makes it possible to proactively control the maintenance measures of production lines and thus minimize downtimes.
A practical example: an integrated end effector with electric axes that uses digital support to detect an irregularity in the axis movement and alerts the maintenance team at an early stage, preventing unplanned production stops and ensuring maximum availability.