Estimated reading time: 7 min
In a world where technological innovation moves at breakneck speed, factories are under increasing pressure to improve efficiency and competitiveness. Robotization is emerging as an essential solution to these challenges. By replacing manual tasks with automated processes, modernized plants can not only increase productivity, but also guarantee consistent quality and reduce labor costs.
This industrial revolution is transforming the manufacturing landscape, paving the way for a new era of intelligent, efficient production. In this article, we explore the various aspects of robotization in factories and its implications for the manufacturing industry.
Listen to the podcast on La Chaise Bleue :
[Spotify] – 35. Marc Guérette – Gestion Robomatik – La Chaise Bleue | Podcast on Spotify
[Apple Podcast] – La Chaise Bleue: 35. Marc Guérette – Gestion Robomatik on Apple Podcasts
Marc Guérette – Expert in process automation and robotization for the manufacturing sector
To help us with this topic, we had the pleasure of talking to Marc Guérette, automated production engineer and founding president of Gestion Robomatik. Born in 2022, the company’s mission is to support companies wishing to innovate through automation and robotization.
For his part, Marc Guérette plays a crucial role for his customers, meticulously analyzing companies’ production plans and internal processes in order to provide precise findings and strategic recommendations. His in-depth expertise and commitment to automation make him a key neutral figure in the industrial modernization landscape.
Signs of the need for project management automation
Automating project management is of paramount importance in preventing technical failures and accidents in the workplace. By integrating automated monitoring and control systems, companies can not only quickly detect potential anomalies, but also anticipate and prevent failures before they occur.
What’s more, automated management enables efficient resource allocation, precise task planning and optimal coordination between teams, thus reducing the risk of human error and accidents. By investing in management automation, companies strengthen their ability to ensure worker safety, while improving their long-term productivity and profitability.
Acceptance of technical failures in technology
According to our guest expert, most of the companies he works with share a common issue: the acceptance of technical problems. The reality is that many plants are not optimized and are falling behind technologically, which is costing many industries dearly. They are therefore caught in a status quo situation where nothing changes, because it has been accepted that things don’t work optimally. This posture is dangerous, as it means that the company stops innovating or investing in new solutions.
“We have to be careful about the human side of accepting that it doesn’t work optimally”. – Marc Guérette
Fortunately, Marc Guérette points out that many companies have embarked on a digital transformation in recent years to remedy this situation. However, he points out another issue to watch out for: launching without specifications. He points out that it’s important to take stock and analyze a number of variables in depth before embarking on a project. Unfortunately, many companies don’t take the time to analyze their processes, and end up running out of funds to complete their technology projects.
Safety and accidents in the workplace
As the saying goes: to err is human. This is another sign to watch out for, according to Marc Guérette. Some human interventions involve risks of error that could easily be avoided by automated processes or robotics. In his view, tasks that are highly repetitive, tedious and dangerous would benefit from being performed by robots. However, our specialist is clear on the matter: “We’re not replacing jobs: we’re optimizing them and creating robots to perform the necessary tasks”.
For the companies Marc Guérette works with, robotization usually means an increase in employee retention. One of the reasons given for this phenomenon is that employees feel more secure in their work environment. In addition, by revising processes to eliminate tasks that have no value, we avoid creating a feeling of fatigue and disinterest among the workforce.
The challenges of robotization for Quebec companies
Companies that neglect to integrate robotics into their production processes risk facing a series of critical challenges. Firstly, they face the threat of losing customers to competitors better equipped to respond quickly and efficiently to market demands. Indeed, without task automation, these companies can suffer from production delays, quality inconsistencies and higher costs, damaging their competitiveness and reputation.
What’s more, it’s essential to anticipate your robotization needs and research available technologies, since sourcing locally can be a major challenge for Quebec companies.
As a result, companies that are slow to adopt robotics run the risk of being left behind in the market, facing growing challenges in terms of customer loyalty and supply chain.
Losing customers through lack of technological innovation
It’s essential to know how to adapt to market demands, otherwise you become an increasingly unattractive option for potential customers. This is unfortunately a reality for many entrepreneurs in the manufacturing sector, according to the expert consulted. With a plant that is not optimized, the production line is unable to keep pace with its customers or competitors. However, there is a solution to this problem: automation and robotics. However, most managers are not necessarily aware that robotization can help their business.
Specialists like Marc Guérette are there to help companies review their production processes and identify possible solutions. The key is to rethink how the production chain operates from the outset, and to question the company’s internal processes. At times, it’s not even necessary to introduce robots, but simply to make a few strategic changes to simplify the life of workers on the floor.
The difficulty of sourcing technology locally
We asked Marc Guérette the following question: is it possible for a manufacturing company to equip itself locally with robotics technology? He replied that, unfortunately, it’s still very difficult. We’re still dependent on the international supply chain. That’s why it’s important to get into these projects quickly, as there can be long lead times for the delivery of certain parts.
“Companies don’t necessarily know that robotics can help their business, even if it’s an SME”. – Marc Guérette
The expert is keen to point out that investing in process automation is a more accessible tactic than entrepreneurs might think. Indeed, access to different types of technology has become much more democratic in recent years, making it possible to find more affordable solutions. What’s more, there are a number of funding sources available to support companies in their technology projects, such as PROMPT’s various Funding Programs.
The advantages of using industrial robotization for your digital turnaround
The integration of robotization and automation within a plant offers a host of advantages that are redefining productivity and efficiency standards. First and foremost, these technologies enable the elimination of non-value-added tasks, freeing workers from repetitive and tedious work.
What’s more, robotization and automation help to make processes more profitable by reducing labor costs, production errors and downtime. By automating processes, companies can redirect human resources to higher value-added activities, such as innovation, complex problem-solving and continuous improvement.
In short, the adoption of robotization and automation represents a major lever for increasing the competitiveness and sustaining the growth of manufacturing companies.
Making processes more profitable through innovation programs
Investing in the automation and robotization of your business can have a number of impacts, such as making your production line more profitable. Marc Guérette tells us that most factories are really at 25% profitability for their processes. So there’s a big shortfall. He adds that each production line, each process and each product is unique. So you have to take a number of factors into account, while taking a step back when planning a technological innovation project.
Marc Guérette’s role is to guide managers and entrepreneurs in their investments, strategic choices and R&D projects. The support offered by specialists like Marc Guérette provides you with the statistics and evidence you need to make better decisions in the future. By working with you, these experts can help you draw up specifications that will help you to..:
- Define your company’s profile and characteristics;
- Identify digital transformation project risks;
- Establish milestones and priorities for the automation and robotization of your business processes.
The implementation of this structure optimizes resource management. By investing in technology, entrepreneurs also give themselves greater operational flexibility, enabling their company to adapt rapidly to fluctuations in demand and market trends.
“We’re able to simulate your business even before we implement robots or automated solutions. – Marc Guérette
Listen to the podcast on La Chaise Bleue :
[Spotify] – 35. Marc Guérette – Gestion Robomatik – La Chaise Bleue | Podcast on Spotify
[Apple Podcast] – La Chaise Bleue: 35. Marc Guérette – Gestion Robomatik on Apple Podcasts
The SIPEM innovation funding program: support for Quebec companies
Marc Guérette is one of the SIPEM program’s accredited experts for the production of Cahiers de Charges Technologiques. Cahiers de Charges Technologiques are crucial for clarifying the expectations of all parties involved in a project, and guaranteeing the quality of the work produced.
