As technology improves, robots are poised to take over factory floors around the world. This includes tasks that go beyond basic repetition. Whirlpool is one brand that is turning to robotics in its manufacturing processes. The company has implemented several new robots this year and doesn’t have plans of slowing down.
This article is for Premium Members only. Please login below to read the rest of this article.
Not a Premium Member yet? Become one today.
[login_form redirect=’https://www.ethanhathaway.com/whirlpool-implements-robots-in-its-manufacturing-processes’]
[show_to accesslevel=’Premium Members’]
Situation: Whirlpool Wants to Save Money and Improve Safety Through Robotics
James Keppler, Whirlpool’s Vice President of Integrated Supply Chain, doesn’t think robots will completely take over manufacturing. However, the company is investing in robotics technology to improve quality, enhance safety, and cut costs. As he states, “At Whirlpool, as part of our manufacturing 2020 strategy, we certainly think that smart automation, more advanced test systems that move us from more of a reactive position to predictive, real time shop floor visibility, and more advanced analytics, so we can prevent equipment failures before they happen, [are important]. I think those types of things are very much in our near future, and we are already working on those today.”
According to Keppler, Whirlpool has spent a lot of time over the past year testing and implementing robotics technology. One of Whirlpool’s facilities in Ohio already uses more than 50 robotic tuggers to deliver parts to 24 drop-off locations along the assembly line. These robots are an important part of Whirlpool’s lean and continuous improvement philosophy.
Approach: Implement Robots Throughout the Manufacturing Process
Whirlpool has 15,000 manufacturing employees and is still in need of skilled talent. Robots are not replacing employees at this point. Instead, they are allowing Whirlpool to improve safety at its factories while also cutting costs. Keppler says labor savings is a benefit to automation, but it isn’t the key reason that Whirlpool is using robotics in its factories.
Whirlpool is leading the industry in appliances with integrated technology. The company is working with IBM and other technology companies to come up with robotics solutions for its factories in order to help the company continue to manufacture high-quality technology products. Some products have hundreds of parts, and robots can help employees assemble these products faster.
Impact and Advantage
Whirlpool has seen all sorts of benefits to implementing robots in its factories. One of the biggest benefits is improved safety for employees. Robots can essentially remove forklifts and other powered vehicles out of areas where many employees are working. This cuts down on the number of work-related injuries. Another benefit to robots is improved efficiency in Whirlpool’s factories. Employees don’t have to spend time moving parts from one location to another. Instead, they can focus their time on assembly and other manufacturing tasks.
Whirlpool isn’t the first company to start using robots in its factories, and it won’t be the last. Robots help companies scale and improve overall processes in their factories. Whirlpool presents a good example of that. The best part is that employees’ jobs aren’t at risk because Whirlpool continues to grow and will always need skilled labor to supervise robots and complete certain manufacturing tasks. [/show_to]
