Who this is for
Metal-processing businesses considering whether and where automation with industrial robots or cobots is suitable for them: works managers and Geschäftsführer who need a sound initial assessment before speaking with integrators or manufacturers, as well as skilled workers who will be working with a new robot or cobot cell on the shop floor. No prior knowledge required. The course does not replace specialist planning by a system integrator or a safety-related assessment – it provides the basis for a conversation on equal terms.
What you will be able to do afterwards
- Classify types of industrial robots (articulated arm, SCARA, Delta) and their selection criteria
- Explain what distinguishes a cobot from a conventional industrial robot
- Name the main programming methods in overview (teach-in, offline programming, app-based)
- Classify the fundamental principles of human-robot collaboration and the relevant safety standards (ISO 10218, ISO/TS 15066)
- Match typical application areas (machine loading, welding, deburring, palletising) to the appropriate robot types
- Name the key economic decision criteria prior to implementation
How the course works
Eight lessons with approximately 120 minutes of reading time, completable in any number of sessions: covering types of robot, programming and safety through to economic assessment and the most common pitfalls during implementation. A self-assessment test at the end: 16 questions, for self-checking purposes, repeatable as often as required. On completion, a certificate of participation is available as a PDF.
What the course is not
It does not cover manufacturer-specific programming in detail (no KUKA, ABB or Fanuc code, no UR PolyScope instructions), does not constitute a complete risk assessment under the Machinery Directive, and is not a substitute for a safety engineer or system integrator. Payback periods are presented as a range, not as fixed figures for use in calculations specific to your own business.