It has a simple vision system, which allows it to determine which product it is working on and perform its task accordingly, Calhoun said. Fluke is considering purchasing another robot that would add lubricant to products, but humans are the most valuable asset on the assembly line, he said Despite the lack of proliferation of robots at home and at work, there are actually more robotics in use by businesses than you might expect. The definition of a robot expands far beyond machines that resemble humans. In other words, automation. Fluke, for example, uses a lot of automation in various places along its assembly line.
Automation is most successful, however, for repetitive, precise tasks.
Humans cannot be replaced when judgment and flexibility are required, Calhoun said. ATL Ultrasound Inc., along with other manufacturers, extensively uses surface-mount assembly to produce its products. Surface-mount assembly means a machine downloads a circuit placement pattern and duplicates it on circuit boards, said Ted Volberding, ATL's director of operations. Machines perform this task well because it is repetitive and precise. The evolution of the manufacturing process during the past decade has made humans increasingly valuable, Volberding agreed.