📋 Case Study

Automotive Tier-1 Supplier: Robotic Deburring Cell ROI

High manual labor cost ($38/hr) and inconsistent surface finish causing 12% rework

🏗️ Project Overview

Implementation of collaborative robot cell for aluminum chassis components

🎯 Challenge

High manual labor cost ($38/hr) and inconsistent surface finish causing 12% rework

🔧 Design Approach

UR10e cobot with force-sensing end effector, vision-guided path planning, and integrated metrology feedback loop

📐 Design Diagram

UR10eCobotVisionGuidanceMetrologyFeedbackChallenge: $38/hr labor × 2 ops × 2000 hrs = $152k/yr12% rework × $220 × 180k units = $475.2k/yrRobotic Deburring Cell ROI

AI-generated project design illustration

📐 Key Calculations

Labor Cost Offset

2 operators × $38/hr × 2,000 hrs/yr
Result: $152,000/yr
Direct operational savings

Rework Avoidance ROI

12% scrap × $220 avg. part value × 180k units/yr
Result: $475,200/yr
Quality-driven margin recovery

📊 Results

Payback: 14.2 months; NPV @ 8%: $1.24M over 5 years; OEE increased from 68% to 89%

💡 Lessons Learned

  • Force control calibration reduced tool wear by 40%
  • Vision-guided teaching cut programming time by 70%
  • Cross-training maintenance staff was critical for uptime

Key Takeaways

  • 1Force control calibration reduced tool wear by 40%
  • 2Vision-guided teaching cut programming time by 70%
  • 3Cross-training maintenance staff was critical for uptime