Introduction and configuration of a collaborative robot in an assembly task as a means to decrease occupational risks and increase efficiency in a manufacturing company

Abstract

Occupational risk factors (e.g. awkward postures, excessive effort, and repetitive movements) are a growing concern in the manufacturing industry due to their relationship with the incidence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). In this sense, collaborative robots developed purposely for performing manufacturing tasks have emerged as an attractive solution to the problem. This paper presents a project developed in a manufacturing company, where we propose the implementation of a collaborative robot to reduce the incidence of occupational risks among the employees of an assembly station and thus increase their safety and improve the performance of the entire assembly line. To implement the collaborative robot, we made a mechanical design of the workstation; then, the collaborative robot was configured by using the console method. Later, we performed a risk analysis of the collaborative robot with the formats provided by the manufacturing company and tested the collaborative robot's reliability following specific criteria. Finally, company technicians and operators were trained in terms of collaborative robot maintenance and operation, respectively. Our results revealed that the collaborative robot frees employees from potential occupational risks. Moreover, we detected better performance of the assembly line after the collaborative robot was implemented.