November 2022 Volume 4

AUTOMATION

processes, most are still intimidated by adding robots to automate those processes. Hunsinger acknowledges having that open dialogue between the integrator and customer is key to achieving the customer’s goal. Whether the issue is with quality, production, or manning, the important thing is having cohesion with individual expertise to come up with a solution. He says, “I don’t expect you to know my product line as well as I do, but I’m looking for your expertise on automation, material handling, and I’m hoping to provide my expertise on forging and we have that cohesion.” Trizzino comments on the training aspect and Adaptec’s inclusion of training credits in a sale to ensure the customer is comfortable with the robot. Once the customer understands the technology, an everlasting synergy between the integrator and customer begins as both continuously look for ways to improve processes. Morris taps into his years of experience working with customers integrating their first robot. He says, “One of the things I’ve just enjoyed immensely is you put the first robot in and it goes through its shakedown and it’s working. Then, your phone rings six months later with ‘you know we were thinking about doing another one.’” After traveling back to the customer site, both were able to find more potential robotic applications. Morris refers to it as “lily pads going across the pond.” Having seen automation expand throughout numerous plants, he emphasizes that it “makes you feel good when what you do is helping people.”

Warren continues the conversation, bringing up the first plant tours FIA did back in 2018. Comparing the recent ones, he mentions the increase in automation the next time around. The operators at these plants were content with being able to maintain their own processes and programming. As a result, some FIA members “caught the fever,” witnessing the capacity that can be added to forging processes with automation. FIA gives people the opportunity to see the robots, believe in the automation, and gain confidence tomake the next step and take the risk to automate. Turning to Hunsinger, Warren says, “I hope you believe it now. I hope you’re more confident to make this step and to give it a try.” Warren ends with highlighting that although the forging industry is small, they are important to the country for the war effort, planes, and energy – “our country needs us.” To view a video of this roundtable discussion, visit https://adaptecsolutions.com/forging-roundtable-with-fias-jim warren-and-bonney-forge-corporations-drew-hunsinger/

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FIA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2022 36