Saving costs with automation

Increasing labour costs, a shortage of skilled workers and growing competitive pressure present companies with major challenges. At the same time, numerous processes in many companies are still carried out by hand, which is time-consuming, error-prone and cost-intensive. Industrial automation offers enormous savings potential. Even small, manageable projects can reduce operating costs, increase productivity and specifically relieve employees.

Today, automation is much easier and more cost-effective for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) than it was just a few years ago. Thanks to standardised components and prefabricated solutions, companies can start with manageable investments and achieve measurable results quickly.

The running costs in production and material handling are mainly influenced by three factors:

• Rising personnel costs
• Shortage of skilled labour and vacant positions
• Inefficient or manual processes

While the statutory minimum wages have increased significantly in recent years, there is a shortage of qualified employees for physically demanding or monotonous activities. Companies therefore have to use more resources to achieve the same performance.

Particularly affected areas include:

• Palletising and depalletising
• Internal transport
• Order picking
• Conveyor and sorting tasks
• Material feeding and machine loading

It is precisely these activities that are ideal for cost-effective automation.

Learn how companies, regardless of their size, can automate their logistics, material flow and fulfilment in a scalable way, increasing profitability and reducing costs.

Using standardised components

Modular systems accelerate planning, set-up and commissioning considerably. At the same time, they reduce engineering effort and integration costs.

Benefits:

• Shorter project durations
• Fewer interface problems
• Lower development costs
• Simpler maintenance

Using preconfigured systems

Pre-fitted solutions reduce the installation effort and minimise technical risks. This way, companies become productive more quickly and can amortise investments sooner.

Use digital planning tools

Modern simulation and planning tools enable the virtual design of automation solutions even before acquisition. Errors are detected at an early stage and adjustments can be made in a cost-effective way.

Benefit from lower operating costs in the long term

Companies do not only benefit from short-term savings through automation. The long-term effects are often even greater:

✓ Reduced ongoing personnel costs
✓ Higher plant availability
✓ Fewer production errors
✓ Lower rejects rates
✓ Improved planning and utilisation
✓ Lower workloads for existing employees

Especially in times of a shortage of skilled labour, automation makes it possible to use existing resources specifically where human know-how generates the greatest added value.

Achieve vast savings in small steps

The idea that industrial automation is reserved exclusively for large companies is outdated. Thanks to cost-effective hardware, standardised modules and simple integration options, small and medium-sized companies can also sustainably reduce their operating costs.

Anyone who starts off with a clearly defined pilot project reduces risks, achieves success quickly and creates the basis for a step-by-step automation strategy. This way, rising costs, the shortage of skilled labour and growing competitive requirements can be overcome.