3K industries frequently suffer from labor shortages as well as injuries in the workplace. An industrial problem-solving group from the Ministry of Economic Affairs has turned to the Industry Development Bureau (IDB) to provide assistance in the development of smart automation systems in particular for Sha Yang Ye Industrial Co., Ltd., the world's largest gearbox manufacturer, to develop a multi-floor smart automated delivery system. Auto Guided Vehicles (AGV) will be employed in factories and are expected to be introduced in industrial zones throughout Taiwan, helping boost efficiency in the movement of manufactured products, reduce allocation costs, raise the quality in the supply of materials, and enhance worker productivity.
The IDB stated that the assistance of the AGV system will revolve around elevator driver modules that move between floors, as well as the integration of multi-floor delivery and production line supply systems. This smart delivery system will be promoted among a wide range of industries and help attract Taiwanese companies with operations overseas to return to Taiwan to engage in R&D and production. Ultimately, this will boost Taiwan's exports and help underpin the nation's economy.
Sha Yang Ye Chairman Tsai Feng-chun remarked that the introduction of the multi-floor smart automated delivery system will reduce the amount of manpower required to move materials and products, thus boosting efficiency. At the same time, it will raise the quality of the process of selecting and preparing materials, consequently improving the entire production process. This will make it possible for factories to operate double shifts in order to meet growth in the volume of orders they receive, he said.
The AGV can carry loads of up to 300 kilograms and will take advantage of sensor-based tracks, enabling items to be moved between floors. This will alleviate the burden on employees of having to move goods and will support production plans calling for multiple shifts. Spatial constraints have been overcome, which will effectively address the challenge of moving materials and goods among multi-story office and factory buildings located in industrial zones in urban areas. This system is gradually being employed in related companies and factories, and it is expected to have quite a positive impact throughout the industrial sector.