NIRO members examined existing automation potentials with the support of the IPS at the member company Eisenbau Krämer in Kreuztal

Robotics applications play a decisive role in the discussion about Industry 4.0. But for which workplaces does automation offer the more sensible and efficient solution?
As a prelude to the topic of robotics applications, the Institute of Production Systems (IPS) at the TU Dortmund University invited NIRO member companies to a workshop [CB1] in May 2019. At this workshop the Quick-Check Tool was presented, which can be used to clarify automation potentials and potentials of human-robot collaboration (MRK).

In the concrete continuation of the workshop, production experts met at the NIRO-member company Eisenbau Krämer in Kreuztal on September 9th, 2019, in order to apply the tool from the workshop and to check the potential of the integration of MRK with a detailed view on the processes at a workplace in the quality assurance, where the measurement of pipes is carried out.

The event started with a production inspection of Eisenbau Krämer GmbH.

In the further course the NIRO-team on site dedicated itself in detail to the processes of the workstation to be analyzed and checked with the help of the Quick-Check tool developed by IPS, in how far an addition or replacement by the use of robotics is possible. The results were then discussed, the tool was evaluated and enriched with suggestions for expansion. The focus was on how important it is to take a very detailed look at all individual sub-processes in order to ultimately be able to reliably determine the automation and MRK potential of the entire workplace.

The participants praised the exchange in a collegial round and the possibility to take a look outside the own production. A continuation of the cooperation between the Institute for Production Systems and the NIRO member companies is planned.

NIRO would like to thank the two speakers Tatjana Seckelmann and Vanessa Weßkamp from the IPS for their professional support and moderation of the event and Eisenbau Krämer for their hospitality and the provision of a suitable workplace and is looking forward to the next meeting.

Click here to go to the KOMPI website, where the Quick-Check tool is available.

We would like to thank NIRO for the editorial work on this report.