Long-term operational experience with a robot cell production system controlled by low carbon-footprint Senju (thousand-handed) Kannon Model robots and an approach to improving operating efficiency

Abstract

In an effort to optimize our production system, in 2000 we introduced a robot cell production system controlled by low carbon-footprint Senju (thousand-handed) Kannon Model robots on our manufacturing line. Since then, over a period of 11 years, we have successfully produced more than 52 million product units, using this cell production system. During this period, we have made many improvements to the system, such shortening the takt time in the production process. Then, in a new quest for improvement, we focused our attention on the production system's operating conditions. More specifically, we have carried out research and development studies on the prospect of minimizing production systemdowntime, to improve our operating efficiency, and on running the production system non-stop for long periods of time.