User:Brandondakinard/sandbox

copied from Lights out (manufacturing)

Existing "lights-out factories"
FANUC, the Japanese robotics company, has been operating a "lights out" factory for robots since 2001. Robots are building other robots at a rate of about 50 per 24-hour shift and can run unsupervised for as long as 30 days at a time. "Not only is it lights-out," says Fanuc vice president Gary Zywiol, "we turn off the air conditioning and heat too."

In the Netherlands, Philips uses lights-out manufacturing to produce electric razors, with 128 robots from Adept Technology. The only humans are nine quality assurance workers at the end of the manufacturing process.

Motivations for lights-out factories
Companies that use a largely robotic manufacturing fleet would see more productivity at a lower upkeep cost. Companies incorporating the lights-out factory mindset into floor plans would only need to consider robotic workers. Human labourers to a separate location for tasks such as quality assurance. Using autonomous robotics or optimizing space for a fully industrial force would allow for this increase productivity. James Cook, an applications engineer at Stäubli and colleague of David Arceneaux, the Business Development and Marketing Manager at Stäubli Robotics says robots can help lower building costs by providing for smaller work cells. “Manufacturers can fit a larger number of compact cells in the same space to increase production without adding heating, lighting or cooling to the cost of the building“ says Cook. . When considering that floor space is also important in energy considerations, this smaller space will reduce energy consumption by reducing heating costs. Without workers, climate control systems are also unnecessary and smaller layouts will mean less electricity consumption.