»The Quick Check highlighted interesting approaches for optimizing our production. It was also an opportunity to discuss the current possibilities and limitations of AI-controlled cobots. Building on this, we would like to pursue this topic further in the future.«
Günter Efinger
Efinger Instruments GmbH & Co. KG
Contact at the AI Innovation Center
Theo Jacobs
Cobot-assisted production of surgical instruments
Initial situation
The manufacture of surgical instruments is characterized by extensive manual activities that are carried out by highly qualified specialists. Time-consuming and labor-intensive tasks include fitting, straightening, grinding, sharpening and polishing. These production steps are not only cost-intensive. The increasing shortage of skilled workers is also a challenge, as qualified personnel for these activities are becoming increasingly difficult to find. Increased automation of parts of production therefore seems essential. As production is characterized by a high number of variants and small batch sizes, the use of collaborative robots can be promising, for example for grinding and sharpening instruments. Thanks to flexible, AI-supported control, the robots should be able to adapt quickly to new tasks or variants. This type of automation is new to the industry and is relevant for many companies in the »Medical Valley« in the Tübingen area.
Solution idea
An automation potential analysis was carried out in order to identify process steps for which automation makes both technical and economic sense. All work steps were considered, from cutting semi-finished products to milling, assembly and grinding of the instruments through to sharpening. In addition, challenges for the safe use of robots in the human environment were also examined.
One optimization approach was found in the sawing of semi-finished products, which currently require a deburring step afterwards. This could possibly be omitted in future by selecting a different sawing process.
Potential for the use of cobots was identified in the grinding of scissor handles. This concerns both the surface grinding of the handle sides and the contour grinding, in which the handles are finally shaped. In addition to precise handling of the parts, regular monitoring of the grinding results is necessary in order to assess the surface quality and the material removal still required.
Benefit
As part of the Quick Check, approaches were identified as to how work steps can be partially automated in the future with the aim of reducing costs and at the same time countering the increasing shortage of skilled workers. It was determined which robot skills, particularly those based on AI functionality, are required for automation. In addition, it was examined how the cobots can be safely integrated into the production environment.
