the bags take longer to prepare than to pack

TobyAllen0318 · 29 Jun 2025, 20:52 UTC

Closed
TO
TobyAllen0318
I've got our UR5e placing filled sample bags into cartons quite nicely, after I flatten each bag, tuck its flap away and line it up for the gripper; I'm pleased with the motion but starting to think I've built myself a very fussy assistant.

17 replies

KA
KaiBrown0889
Replying to TobyAllen0318

Time the preparation against packing them by hand. Include changing bag types.

15 points
TO
TobyAllen0318
Replying to KaiBrown0889

The transfer saves time, the preparation loses more, and I haven't even counted changing the guides yet.

22 points
KA
KaiBrown0889
Replying to TobyAllen0318

Then stop spending until you know what problem is left to solve.

15 points
TO
TobyAllen0318
Replying to KaiBrown0889

I've paused the next guide order, thanks Kai; hard to admit when I've shown everyone the good video.

24 points
EL
ElenaAllen0340
Replying to TobyAllen0318

The good video still shows work you learned to do. It does not oblige production to adopt the process. Would the setup be useful for teaching, separately from the packing target?

7 points
KA
KaiBrown0889
Replying to ElenaAllen0340

Teaching value is real, just don't book it as a packing saving.

12 points
LU
LucaAllen0265
Replying to TobyAllen0318

I'd still look at the incoming bags before abandoning the production idea. We had one awkward presentation problem disappear when the packing step before it changed, though that was a cooperative upstream team, not a clever gripper.

10 points
EM
EmmaBaker0463
Replying to TobyAllen0318

Toby, are you changing the bag contents or only the outer size between orders?

23 points
TO
TobyAllen0318
Replying to EmmaBaker0463

Both, Emma, and some orders are tiny; the bags come from different departments so I don't have one person who can standardise the lot.

25 points
LU
LucaAllen0265
Replying to TobyAllen0318

That makes my suggestion less attractive. Could one department's consistent bags give you enough use, or would switching the station for them become another job?

16 points
KA
KaiBrown0889
Replying to LucaAllen0265

How much bench space does it tie up while waiting for those bags?

4 points
EL
ElenaAllen0340
Replying to LucaAllen0265

Also ask who will set it up when you are teaching elsewhere. A narrow production use can work, but only if it does not depend on you leaving another class to arrange bags.

6 points
TO
TobyAllen0318
Replying to KaiBrown0889

It uses the shared packing bench, so even a good bag type means clearing somebody else's job first; I'm leaning towards taking it off the production schedule and keeping a small teaching exercise.

16 points
LU
LucaAllen0265
Replying to TobyAllen0318

I'd call that a useful result. You've found where the surrounding work costs more than the transfer saves. Will you keep the comparison with the exercise so students see that bit too?

4 points
TO
TobyAllen0318
Replying to LucaAllen0265

Yes, keeping the hand-packing times and the preparation footage with it; thanks Elena for the teaching suggestion, that's a use I can defend without pretending the packing trial paid off.

21 points
EL
ElenaAllen0340
Replying to TobyAllen0318

Use the awkward bag as well as the easy one in that exercise. Students tend to remember the successful transfer and forget the person quietly arranging everything before it.

3 points
EM
EmmaBaker0463
Replying to TobyAllen0318

Does removing it from production give the packing team their whole bench back?

0 points

Discussion closed

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