Planning the use of robots

Careful planning is essential to the effective introduction of any new technology into an existing manufacturing environment. This includes the introduction of robotic technology. In this paper, certain management attitudes toward strategic planning are reviewed, and it is noted that the systematic development of strategic manufacturing plans traditionally has not been a priority with American industry. User views regarding robots are briefly reviewed to emphasize the need for involving users as well as management in the planning process. A ten-step procedure is then described for creating manufacturing strategic plans that are completely complementary with a company's strategic business plan. Finally, a few general rules are provided for the practical application of the proposed procedure.