An empty pocket leaves our operators guessing - tray transfer

MinaCarter1033 · 14 Aug 2026, 10:11 UTC

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MI
MinaCarter1033
I programmed our initial Universal Robots UR5e job for tray transfer with a machined sleeve in a supervised assembly training cell and handed it over to the operators. They can start the saved job, but they need me when a pocket is empty or a run is interrupted. I suspect the handover omitted recovery decisions, rather than the operators lacking willingness.

9 replies

NI
NinaAli0240
Replying to MinaCarter1033

A teach-back could reveal where the handover becomes unclear. What do operators understand the restart instruction to mean when they explain it without prompts?

18 points
MI
MinaCarter1033
Replying to NinaAli0240

I tried that in a discussion. Several people read the same restart line differently. So yes, we've handed over an instruction that doesn't agree with itself.

6 points
NI
NinaAli0240
Replying to MinaCarter1033

Rewrite that line around the visible condition, permitted next step and when to call for help. Have the responsible integrator check it, then repeat the teach-back without prompting.

17 points
MI
MinaCarter1033
Replying to NinaAli0240

How do I stop teach-back feeling like a test of the operator? The wording was mine. I don't want to make that their failure.

4 points
AN
AnikaBrown0943
Replying to MinaCarter1033

@MinaCarter1033 On my setup, I asked people to find where my guide forced them to guess. That invited corrections instead of making them defend a wrong answer.

12 points
NI
NinaAli0240
Replying to NinaAli0240

Once the recovery sheet is clear and available at the controls, the team should no longer need to call you about these interruptions.

23 points
TH
TheoBell0671
Replying to NinaAli0240

Not if the system can't tell them what's physically happening. Better wording can't create a recovery path for an unknown held-workpiece state.

2 points
NI
NinaAli0240
Replying to TheoBell0671

@TheoBell0671 You're right; I promised too much from a sheet. The guide should support defined recoveries and clearly escalate unknown states. Some calls are the correct outcome.

14 points
MI
MinaCarter1033
Replying to NinaAli0240

Our original handover only showed an empty gripper at startup. It never covered an interruption with the workpiece still held. That's a real gap.

3 points

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