Automation
As a technology-driven thermoset molder, Woodland Plastics offers automation within its manufacturing process for high volume thermoset programs or projects requiring special process inspections or deflash. Woodland has capabilities to implement robotics and end of arm tooling at molding presses, as well as the ability to automate secondary operations including automated deflash systems and automated vision inspections.
Automation Spotlight – Automated Press Robotics and End of Arm Tool
Automation Spotlight – Robot with Automated Inline Deflash
Woodland Plastics leverages automation and real-time monitoring technology throughout its business operations with real time ERP manufacturing software, upgraded molding presses, deflash equipment, and other auxiliary equipment to support its thermoset molding capabilities. Woodland utilizes IQMS, a real-time ERP manufacturing software that records, monitors, and stores manufacturing data and visibility into each step of a manufacturing process and is tied into all molding machines and auxiliary equipment. This data provides production data in both real time and/or within a historical date range or data set. Woodland Plastics uses its ERP system in various functions of its business, including production data collection and monitoring, job and program work instructions, document control, layered process audits and quality inspections, predictive and preventive maintenance, estimating and costing, and employee and job-specific training.
Woodland Plastics is always exploring improvements to existing processes and equipment with investments in molding machines, robotics and end of arm tooling, deflash and auxiliary equipment, inspection technology, and other automation solutions. Whether a product requires zero-defect shipments, 100% camera inspection, or special manufacturing requirements, Woodland Plastics can develop a manufacturing and inspection process to meet customer and product quality and delivery standards.
Utilizing IQMS, a plastics-industry leading, real-time ERP software system, gives Woodland Plastics the ability to:
- Monitor the entire manufacturing process
- Monitor real-time production and scheduling
- Manage document control
- Use predictive maintenance for tooling and machines
- Set up Just-In-Time (JIT) product delivery
- Develop project/asset management tools.
Technology Spotlight – Automated Degating Machine
By investing in a custom-built degating machine, Woodland Plastics:
– Offers an automated deflash operation, increasing throughput.
– Reduces labor costs & process variation by eliminating operator variation.
– Tracks production with ERP software for real-time productivity data.
– Tracks real-time data for advances in predictive & preventive maintenance of the machine.
Technology Spotlight – Automated Vision Inspection System
Woodland Plastics implemented this automated vision inspection system for a 42-cavity lighting component program in order to:
– Provide a cost-efficient, automated secondary inspection process to 100% inspect parts.
– Inspect large-volume parts that would be costly to inspect manually.
– Eliminate operator inspection error due to automated repeatability.
– Measure a variety of dimensions & part characteristics that may be difficult to inspect manually.
