Michelin ‘s plant in Lexington, South Carolina, has found a great ally in Boston Dynamics ‘ Spot robot to improve efficiency and productivity in each of its inspection and maintenance processes.
Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot
Since its implementation, the robot has generated more than 72 work orders by ” detecting anomalies ” such as air leaks and thermal problems in motors, helping to avoid unforeseen failures that could affect production.
Technical Methods and Reliability Director Wayne Pender said using Spot has allowed the maintenance team to spend more time planning and executing repairs, rather than performing routine manual inspections. Using Orbit , the software that analyses the data collected by Spot, they can identify operating patterns and set alert thresholds to act, before a fault becomes a critical problem.
Boston Dynamics’ robot has reduced time spent on repetitive activities and improved accuracy in identifying problems. With its advanced sensors, the Spot robot can detect air leaks that might otherwise go unnoticed, alerting the maintenance team to take immediate action. Additionally, its thermal sensing capabilities have made it possible to identify overheated motors, helping to avoid costly production disruptions.
Optimizing maintenance processes for Michelin
Michelin Reliability Department member Ryan Burns notes that Spot performs inspections on about 700 assets at the plant , reducing manual workload and allowing for better maintenance planning. According to Burns, the success of the pilot program has led Michelin to consider expanding the use of Spot to other plants in North America.
The Spot robot at the Michelin plant. Source: Boston Dynamics
With the increasing adoption of technologies such as Spot , Michelin is at the forefront of industrial automation, using robots to improve the efficiency and sustainability of its operations. The company is expected to continue expanding these types of solutions across all of its plants, maximizing uptime and minimizing costs associated with unexpected breakdowns.
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Source and photo: Boston Dynamics | LinkedIn
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