Citation
(2010), "Robot inspires men", International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, Vol. 59 No. 8. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijppm.2010.07959hab.005
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2010, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Robot inspires men
Article Type: News From: International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, Volume 59, Issue 8
Allison is general manager of Brisbane-based Drake Trailers, one of Australia’s largest manufacturers of low-loader and specialist large scale trailers. In 2008, Drake installed an ABB robot on a linear track system. And they have never looked back.
“The staff who still weld by hand see that we’re spending money to stay in Australia because it will help us remain competitive”, Allison says. “And it’s challenged them to be as good if not better than the robot in the quality of what they’re doing.”
“We took the decision that we needed to up-skill our existing workforce and add to it – either that or we were going to be swamped by imports”, he says. “We took a long time to consider the best configuration for automating certain aspects of the production, and the ABB robot was easily the best option. It gives us speed, so we can compete on price because our unit costs come down, but it also really improves our quality at the same time. Not only do we get something quicker but we get a better finish and we get repeatability.”