INNOVATION THROUGH AUTOMATION

Engineering for Manufacturability

Revolutionizing manufacturing with

Over Thirty years of experience

When looking to automation for help with manufacturing, sometimes the design of the products themselves can drive automation prices higher than where they could be. Trust Midwest Engineered Systems (MWES) to be a partner in developing efficient and dependable automation systems. We can help reduce the costs associated with automation by analyzing and suggesting product and process modifications. These changes would reduce production system costs while increasing productivity and overall quality.

With more than 30 years of production system design and manufacturing, we have the experience to see where unnecessary issues may develop in moving from product design to production. With careful input from a trusted automation integrator like MWES, many of these areas can be reduced or removed without noticeable changes to functionality or design.

Our engineering for manufacturing evaluation process starts with the analysis of both the product and the current production processes. In terms of the product to be manufactured, a careful examination of its components and their interaction can yield modifications and adjustments. The results can have a great impact on production throughput. These changes usually increase the total lifetime quality of the product, as well.

When looking closely at products in terms of producibility, sometimes even small modifications, like changing fastener styles, can improve automation performance. Reducing assembly complexity by common-sizing components or combining them into commonly used sub-assemblies when possible, provides improvements as well. Looking further, designing the product to be assembled from one direction minimizes the need for regripping the product. This also reduces potential fitment issues and the need for more fixtures than necessary. Changes like these can lower complexity levels in the automation systems required. They may even lower warranty costs and potentially increase the service life of the product.

On the process side, we look at whether the steps and their order can be modified to streamline the production of the product. Especially when considering automation, combining similar operations into one cell can save investment costs by eliminating redundant hardware. Many times, this takes a careful re-orientation of the steps to find these results. Reducing unnecessary part movements is also valuable in increasing product quality, as well as reducing automation complexity. Lowering part movements can also drop production times across the process.

Engineering for manufacturability doesn’t stop with the product. It can extend into the packaging of the product. Developing both primary and secondary packaging for easier automation can save costs and time. Thinking of automation early in packaging specification reduces the complexity of collecting and combining the components and materials that go into the final packaged product. Well-designed packaging can reduce highly dexterous packaging operations and open the door for automation at the end of line operations. It could also increase the speed at which human labor can package products efficiently.

These are just some examples of where Midwest Engineered Systems can use our extensive production and automation knowledge, not only to streamline production operations but have long-term effects on your products beyond the manufacturing stages.

If you’re looking at bringing a new product to market or moving a product that currently depends on manual operation, to automated production, contact us today. Our highly skilled Application Engineers can analyze your product and processes, and build a highly efficient factory automation system that is not only efficient but also cost-effective and reliable.

Building the future of manufacturing, together

How we can help your business with

The MWES Process

Our Process

With each automation project, Midwest Engineered Systems implements a project management process that walks through the steps for successful equipment integration.

people working

Process Development

Our approach to automation process development is to first evaluate the firm’s current production operation and understand the company’s process needs.

people meeting

Proof of Principle Testing

We offer the ability to experience the performance of an automation system with real parts and production conditions before significant investment in a production automation system is made.

Consolidating Multi-Line Production

We can utilize our depth of knowledge on facility-wide automation projects to analyze the current production system to build the best automation solution.

winder unwinder dial machine

Engineering for Manufacturability

We can help reduce the costs associated with automation by analyzing and suggesting product and process modifications.

Why work with us

A trusted partner in manufacturing

120+

Team Members
 

4,000+

Systems Built
 

100k+

Sq. Ft. Facility
 

12+

Years RIA Robot Experts

The Future of Manufacturing

Recent Projects by MWES

Robotic Adhesive Dispensing System

Robotic Adhesive Dispensing System

MWES built an automation system that would robotically apply a small amount of 3M Scotch-Weld...
Robotic Layer Picking System

Robotic Layer Picking System

We provided this customer with an automated layer picking system, equipped with a robot and...
Refrigerated Storage Tending

Refrigerated Storage Tending

Midwest Engineered Systems provided to our customer an automated layer picking system that...
Aerial Lift Weldments

Aerial Lift Weldments

Robotic welding cells were provided to our customer, to accommodate a variety of weldments...
Robotic Case Packing Cell

Robotic Case Packing Cell

The customer was utilizing multiple employees in order to manually pack their product. An automated...
Robotic Frame Welding

Robotic Frame Welding

MWES provided a Robotic Frame Welding Cell to our customer, for the final welding of generator...
Disposable Silverware Napkin Wrapping Automation System

Disposable Silverware Napkin Wrapping Automation System

MWES provided this firm an automation system that wraps cutlery and napkins together quickly...
Flexibility and Production Speed with Robotic Vision

Flexibility and Production Speed with Robotic Vision

A leading manufacturer of picture frames was in need of more flexible manufacturing capability...
Skid Steer Welding Automation

Skid Steer Welding Automation

The robotic weld cell that MWES provided to our customer is capable of processing both Wacker...