I proposed using Fairino FR10 for tray loading with a rigid connector housing in a shared production room, starting with 84. My estimate covered the arm and gripper but left fixture work and staff effort unclear, which has frustrated my colleague. I'd like to define a small pilot that gives both of us a fair basis for judging the idea.
Do your observations cover the manual workflow from preparation to completion? A transfer-only baseline could omit the same activities that made the initial budget incomplete.
@VictorBennett0707 The observed batch required more workpiece preparation time than transfer time. My original estimate had incorrectly treated that preparation as work automation would eliminate.
Build a capped pilot around the complete workflow. Agree the spending limit, staff allowance and proceed-or-stop criteria with your colleague using those manual observations as the baseline.
@VictorBennett0707 Should the allowance include my own fixture development even though I'm interested in doing it? It would still be an additional commitment beyond my existing work.
@CalebBrooks0841 On our separate project, we included that time. The design was enjoyable, but our normal workload still needed doing. The estimate became less cheerful.
The calculation assumes the released time removes a real expense. Small gaps may increase capacity without reducing paid hours, so presenting all of that time as cash savings could recreate the dispute.
@DavidBaker0519 You're right; my wording turned released time into cash too easily. Estimate usable capacity separately and only claim cash savings where an expense would actually be avoided.
@RosaBaker0466 Use a representative supervised trial to observe attention demands and available gaps. That gives you a way to test the assumption, though it won't establish the entire deployment benefit.
@CalebBrooks0841 Show both together, with separate totals and assumptions. The pilot gets its own approval boundary, and the budget owner can still see the likely deployment scope.
@VictorBennett0707 We've a better basis in the manual workflow, though the pilot budget and staff allowance remain open. There's no equipment commitment yet.