The Robotics Manufacturing Hub is a no-cost program that helps smaller manufacturers evaluate automation and strengthen their operations.
A resilient national manufacturing ecosystem is dependent on manufacturers of all sizes being empowered to operate at their peak efficiency. This is particularly true for small and medium sized manufacturers. There are nearly 600,000 small manufacturers in the U.S., representing 99 percent of all manufacturing enterprises. These small businesses employ more than 5 million people and generate more than $1 trillion in gross revenue. In short, the U.S. economy and the resiliency of our supply chains hinges on the success of these firms.
However, small and medium-sized manufacturers are also more likely to struggle with workforce shortages, operate on smaller margins and have fewer resources to adopt the advanced technologies that address these concerns. Smaller firms typically have a smaller R&D budget, less time and may not have the internal team needed to adequately evaluate and research solutions. In many cases, manufacturers have told the ARM Institute that they don’t know where to start with robotics because the internet is overloaded with sales-driven content. They worry about working directly with robotics sales representatives and purchasing a solution that ultimately doesn’t address their needs.
The ARM Institute created our new Robotics Manufacturing Hub (https://arminstitute.org/robotics-manufacturing-hub/), is a no-cost service at ARM’s Pittsburgh facility funded through the Southwestern Pennsylvania Build Back Better Regional Challenge Award. It was launched to help manufacturers navigate and minimize the risks associated with adopting robotics, explore off-the-shelf solutions and solve unique technical challenges through prototyping.
Through the Robotics Manufacturing Hub, which is available to small and medium-sized manufacturers in the Southwestern Pennsylvania region (details on requirements: https://arminstitute.org/robotics-manufacturing-hub/), the ARM Institute’s internal team of robotics and engineering experts guide manufacturers through a robust evaluation and “de-risking” process. This process minimizes common risks associated with adopting automation, addresses the manufacturers’ unique needs and gives smaller firms access to resources they otherwise wouldn’t have.
The Robotics Manufacturing Hub process is a phased approach that kicks off with a visit to the manufacturing site. During this site visit, ARM Institute engineers meet with the manufacturers to see and understand how the product is currently manufactured. We review employee ergonomics, human factors, quality, movement, part volumes, cycle times, part design, and manufacturing intricacies. We also get hands-on to understand the human aspects that a robot would need to replicate.
The second step is an initial analysis that assesses automation potential for the process in question (outlining the rough cost and difficulty) and identifies other opportunities for automation based on the site visit. This analysis could recommend against the use of automation, such as in cases of high mix and low volume, due to potential low return on investment. We also advise on the required technology’s maturity. If significant R&D is required, it might not be a good fit for a small manufacturer.
After identifying high-impact opportunities for automation that have solid business cases, the ARM Institute coordinates requirements with our network of robotics providers, system integrators and robotic equipment OEMs to obtain technical concepts and rough cost estimates. This network leverages the institute’s ecosystem of nearly 400 member organizations across the nation. We identify technical risks in the proposed concepts, such as obstruse shapes, embedded assemblies and environmental constraints.
At this stage, we can prototype the potential setup and work through any unique technical risks. Once solved, we can provide technical specifications to the selected integrator and support the client and integrator through acceptance testing and process integration. There is no obligation for a manufacturer to move forward with robotics implementation—sometimes this process provides enough information to determine an alternate path forward.
Our evaluation process, personalized approach and prototyping provides manufacturers with a critically needed process to guide them through robotics adoption. Our neutrality as a national institute helps reassure manufacturers that we are recommending the best possible path forward.
The ARM Institute is currently working with its first four cohorts of manufacturers, and we expect to have our first full Robotics Manufacturing Hub use case later this year. When the ARM Institute announced this new service in late April 2023, we immediately received inquiries and began filling our cohorts, underscoring the level of interest manufacturers have in robotics and automation.
Technology can’t be developed in a box or be based on assumptions; end-user input and collaboration between diverse organizations are the most effective methods of spurring impactful innovations. Our Robotics Manufacturing Hub leverages these principles to ensure U.S. manufacturing competitiveness.
Tasha Miller is a Programs Manager at the ARM Institute. She leads Southwestern Pennsylvania’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge activities, the Robotics Manufacturing Hub and four regional makerspaces. Reach her at tasha.miller@arminstitute.org
