Some businesses may be hesitant to adopt automated solutions because of the upfront costs of new equipment and personnel training. Automated packaging line, on the other hand, can have significant advantages, and new technology is making it easier than ever to automate more and more parts of the process.
The following are advantages of automated packaging lines:-
- Quality Control (Extra or Improved)
Previously, automation technologies were not always capable of fully automating the task of managing packaging line quality control. Human workers were instead given the arduous and repetitive task of examining all things.
This is changing as new technology emerges, particularly machine vision using artificial intelligence (AI), which allows computers to “see” faults in the same way that humans do. Some modern quality control system designers go so far as to claim that their systems don’t make mistakes and can detect nearly all problems.
Automated quality assurance (QA) systems also work nonstop, so their capacity to catch faults doesn’t fluctuate over the shift. When combined with other automated packaging equipment, this can result in very consistent packing and extended working hours.
- Increased Productivity
Companies may greatly increase production speed and product throughput by implementing the correct automation solution. It’s not uncommon for an automated bagging system, for example, to bag products considerably more safely and quickly than a human.
Automated packaging production line solutions can also multitask and combine numerous packaging procedures, such as sealing and labelling, into a single phase. These methods free up not just one, but maybe multiple employees in this way. As a result, these technologies can both boost speeds and allow packaging companies to shift their workforce to jobs that require or benefit from human interaction, such as shipping, receiving, and picking.
At the same time, these automated technologies can increase packaging consistency and reduce the number of errors made throughout the packaging process.
While speed increases vary depending on packaging types and processes, automated systems can assist all packaging lines by providing consistent output. This frees up labour on the packing process, which could lower labour expenses. Automated methods can also be utilised to pace the packaging line more consistently, increasing productivity and profitability.
- Ergonomics have improved, and the risk of employee injury has decreased
Employees in manufacturing and packaging, where highly repetitive tasks are typical throughout lengthy hours, are more likely to suffer from work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), also known as ergonomic injuries.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, these injuries are among the most common in the workplace, accounting for one-third of all workplace injuries. They also usually take longer than a week to recover from.
Employees’ risk of MSDs can naturally be reduced by reducing the quantity of repetitive labour they must do. Because repeated or arduous tasks benefit from consistency, process automation solutions are already a good fit for them. It is possible to boost production while lowering the risk of damage by substituting employees for machines in parts of the process that require highly repetitive motions.
- Labor Costs Are Lower
Packaging companies are starting to feel the consequences of an increasingly competitive labour market, with the unemployment rate in the United States reaching historic lows and consumer demand continuing to climb. Workers have more job possibilities, which raises pay and, in turn, raises labour expenses.
Automation is one possible answer to this issue. Companies can ensure that people are only hired when they are needed and then removed from the packaging process when they aren’t needed by automating as much of the packaging line as possible.
- Improved Information Availability
Designers of packing line automation systems are increasingly prioritising the creation of HMIs (human-machine interfaces). Workers and managers will be able to access information about particular machines and packing line processes more easily with these upgraded HMIs.
The shift to enhanced information access coincides with a shift in system designers’ attention away from individual machines and toward turnkey and integrated packaging line automation systems. As a result, workers who have improved access to information through a single HMI may also have access to data and analytics from the entire packaging process, allowing them to make the best judgments possible.
Standardized HMIs also make these devices more user-friendly, lowering the amount of training required by staff to successfully use them.
Product businesses can benefit greatly from automated packaging processes. These technologies can lower the danger of ergonomic harm and shift workers to higher-value jobs where they’re more critically needed by taking on the weight of repetitive and monotonous duties. These systems can also increase productivity and improve quality control procedures, all of which leads to increased long-term profitability.