Manufacturing is one of the fastest growing sectors of the Indian economy. Gross Value Added from the manufacturing industry grew at 12.4% year-on-year from FY18 to 19. The Rs. 288.65 trillion sector employs more than 25 million people across the nation and is predicted to become the 5th largest manufacturing power in the world by the end of 2020.
Such
massive growth in the manufacturing industry is largely credited to
the availability of a skilled workforce, finance to set up
manufacturing and tooling infrastructure, and the advent of
automation and robotics. Manufacturers are utilising the assistance
of these machines to create a safer and efficient workforce and to
eliminate chances of physical harm while operating in hazardous
conditions.
Introduction
of mobile robots
For
a significant duration of the last decade, manufacturing involved
stationary machines with articulating limbs assembling or processing
various parts or equipment. The recent years saw the proliferation of
mobile robots, units that can move on their own and perform according
to the requirements.
Manufacturingof robots
increased significantly as these machines were introduced in various
environments like production floor, warehouses, hospitals, nuclear
and chemical processing plants, etc.
According
to recent market research, the demand for self-moving autonomous
machines will grow by 14% between 2017 and 2024. Introducing these
machines had allowed companies to boost engineering business with
robotics 2.0 (the new generation of autonomous robots dubbed by
industry experts) by a significant margin.
It
has also brought several engineering business ideas amongst various
streams of engineering firms in India. These industries rely on an
established merger between mechanical, electronics and computer
engineers to create the software and hardware components of these
machines. That created new job opportunities and windows for R&D,
helping to progress the industry significantly.
Importance
of autonomous robots
Adoption
of advanced robots has increased both production quality and quantity
significantly in recent years. Approximately 70% of the companies
utilising such systems have reported substantial growth in their
production capacity after implementation. It has also given rise to
several business ideas for mechanical engineers in India to tap into
this growing market.
The
potential to transform the in-factory manufacturing process has
generated noteworthy interest in both the producers and employers of
advanced automation in India. The market for advanced mobile robots
has boosted the manufacturing industry by 14.8% and logistics market
by 2.5% in 2019 alone.
Business
owners see mobile robotics as a method to tackle the increasing
complexity of their manufacturing operations. Its importance has been
noted in several fields, including –
-
Productivity – Automation of labour-intensive tasks can drive significantly higher productivity as mobile robots can self-adjust to changing parameters with relative ease. Moreover, suitable simulation software provided by companies manufacturing robots also helps these units to learn how to perform complicated tasks.
-
Quality – Mobile robots can outperform humans in tasks like warehouse sorting, assembly, etc. These machines are an important part of the whole process to deliver greater reliability and precision and to improve quality by a significant margin.
-
Safety – Improved safety is another important advantage of using mobile robots in the modern manufacturing industry. These machines can perform tasks which are otherwise dangerous for the health of a human worker. Also, advancements like machine-vision technology have improved conditions where both man and machine can function fruitfully in a shared environment.
Implementation
of such systems
Implementation of mobile
robots in manufacturing industries requires building the necessary
infrastructure, procuring equipment to handle the operation and
purchasing the units themselves. Although the prices of such machines
have dropped significantly as several firms have tapped into this
mechanical engineering startup idea and started manufacturing similar
systems, implementing the entire system still requires significant
financial backing.
Fortunately,
companies can avail a loanfor engineers
to finance the integration. These credits are available for engineers
hailing from any specialisation and provide a stable monetary base to
aid in upgrading an organisation.
Companies
like Bajaj Finserv offer a substantial amount of funds, of up to Rs.
30 Lakh, for self-employed engineers to finance the purchase,
implementation, and training of such equipment. Mobile robots are an
important force of the future in both production and logistics
segment. The improvement in quality and quantity makes it an
essential part of the modern manufacturing business.
