ROBOTIC AUTOMATION FOR SMART FACTORIES

In a world where changing business practices will prevail, the future of the manufacturing sector will be significantly different from the traditional structure. Due to ongoing and accelerating changes in the industry, such as alternative materials, lightweighting, ecology, consumer trends, electric vehicles, and more, we need to enhance the competitiveness of the sector and establish different structures. Important improvements have been made in production processes in global markets. To maintain competitiveness and increase exports in this changing market structure, it is essential to change our working methods and efficiently utilize automation, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and methods for managing, measuring, designing, and customer relations, just like those used worldwide.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought increased attention to robotic production, automation, and remote monitoring systems, which are introduced with Industry 4.0. Although Turkey's competency in this area may not yet be at the desired level, its expertise in technologies that enable remote production continues to grow. Industrial robotic automation applications have been particularly beneficial for businesses involved in mass production, significantly improving aspects such as quality and efficiency. In recent years, just like in the rest of the world, the integration of robots and CNC machines has become more widespread in the Turkish market. Especially in loading and unloading applications for machine tools, automation is used for heavy and special processes like grinding, deburring, polishing, welding, pallet loading, and packaging.

The transition to robot automation systems offers several benefits:

• Reduction in existing labor costs for the company.
• Improved safety for workers in hazardous and risky environments.
• Provision of a more flexible production system.
• Enhanced quality control consistency.
• Increased output quantity.
• The ability to address the shortage of skilled labor.
• Continuous operation throughout three shifts.
• Ability to lift more weight than a human.
• Simplification and proficiency in repetitive and tedious tasks.
• Minimization of quality control errors.
• Rapid return on investment.
• High motion flexibility.

Robot operators are expected to have the skills to reprogram robot and CNC machine tools according to all variables. Another rapidly emerging profession in the industry is "automation consultancy." Any young graduate with the necessary skills in these fields will find jobs easily. A robot operator or automation consultant with the right skills will not only make businesses work more efficiently but will also contribute to faster automation. All around the world and in our country, there will be a growing need for a workforce that can use robots, program them, develop software solutions and automation systems, implement them, and create digital infrastructures in this field.

PARKURDA SUCCESS STORIES

SARKON TECHNOLOGY: "PARKURDA.COM DESTROYED THE OLD ORDER"

"Through Parkurda.com, the erstwhile order of establishing individual contacts with companies has been upended. Now, as we integrate into the system, offers from firms across the entirety of Turkey are pouring in," affirmed Enes Kalafat, the R&D Engineer at Sarkon Technology.

Sarkon Technology, engaged in the domain of brushless DC motors and motor driver technologies in terms of design, testing, analysis, and production, has been rendering professional services since 2021 with a team of five highly skilled and experienced R&D engineers. Despite its recent inception, the company offers high-quality solutions not only in various sizes and power ratings of brushless DC motors and drivers for deployment in civilian and defense industry projects but also in frameless torque motors. Collaborating with Enes Kalafat, an R&D Engineer at the company, we explored the advantages afforded to them by Parkurda.com, a platform connecting those who seek to outsource and procure services from Tezmaksan during this journey:

When and how did your collaboration with Tezmaksan commence? Are you content with this collaboration?

We embarked on a collaborative venture with Tezmaksan for the acquisition of machine tools when conducting the pre-series production of the prototypes we developed. The collaboration was strengthened through remote and face-to-face discussions from the very moment contact was established. In addition to the support received, Tezmaksan also offered assistance in calculating the times for our production components on the machines.

When and how did you become acquainted with Parkurda.com? What can you share about the benefits it provides to your company?

Parkurda.com was introduced to us and recommended during our discussions with Tezmaksan about the machine tool acquisitions. By registering through our company, we were able to post advertisements for CNC turning, milling, casting, painting, and other processes required for our prototype and serial production components. Thanks to Parkurda.com, the outdated practice of establishing individual contacts with companies has been replaced. Every component we introduce to the system now receives offers from companies all over Turkey, saving us time and providing the opportunity for comparisons.

Considering the ongoing pandemic and the digital future, what significance does Parkurda.com hold for your company?

During the pandemic, thanks to Parkurda.com, we realized that effective communication and interaction for component manufacturing or service procurement could be achieved without face-to-face meetings with companies. Thus, Parkurda.com has greatly expedited our operations. Embracing digitalization and leaving behind traditional methods will always give us a competitive edge in the future, as we can reach hundreds of firms, obtain and compare offers, all with just a few clicks.

Could you please share your experience of posting advertisements and making agreements through this platform?

Within our company, we posted an advertisement on the Parkurda.com website for machining services, which were required during the prototyping stage of our brushless DC motors. As soon as the advertisement was posted, offers began pouring in through the system. We compared the offers and established contact with the firm that best suited our needs. At the final stage, through Parkurda.com, we have successfully manufactured our prototypes with the components provided by the firms we found.