Tool

Cobots Task Selection & ROI Matrix

Interactive task-evaluation form that captures technical, safety, and business inputs for a candidate cobot task and stores structured data for later comparison. Includes clear guidance and formulas to compute expected annual benefits and simple payback, plus example entries.

Interactive Tool

Cobots Task Selection & ROI Matrix

Quick Guide

Use this form to capture a candidate task and the numeric inputs needed to estimate expected benefits and simple ROI for a cobot pilot. The form records technical suitability (complexity, variability, payload, environment) as well as business inputs (throughput, unit value, labor cost, costs to buy and integrate the cobot). The platform will save your input so you can compare multiple candidate tasks.

Key formulas (use these with the numbers you enter):

  • Annual operating hours = hours_per_shift × shifts_per_day × days_per_year
  • Annual units = current_throughput_per_hour × annual operating hours
  • Additional units from cobot = Annual units × (expected_throughput_uplift_pct / 100)
  • Value of additional units = Additional units × unit_value
  • Estimated annual labor hours reduced = Additional units × (cycle_time_seconds / 3600) — adjust if multiple operators work the task
  • Estimated annual labor savings = Estimated annual labor hours reduced × labor_cost_per_hour
  • Estimated annual quality/scrap savings = current_annual_scrap_cost × (expected_scrap_reduction_pct / 100)
  • Total annual benefit ≈ Value of additional units + labor savings + quality/scrap savings
  • Simple payback (years) = (cobot_unit_cost + integration_cost) / Total annual benefit

Example (rounded): if a task currently produces 1 unit/min (60 units/hr), runs 8 hr/day, 2 shifts, 250 days/year → Annual units = 60 × 8 × 2 × 250 = 240,000. If cobot gives 10% uplift → Additional units = 24,000. At unit value $5 → Value = $120,000/year. If labor cost saved is $40,000/year and scrap savings $10,000/year, total benefit = $170,000. If total cost = $200,000 → payback ≈ 1.2 years.

Use the Notes field to record assumptions (e.g., who maintains the cell, expected reliability, operator acceptance plan). After saving, compare multiple task submissions to prioritize pilots.

A concise name that identifies the task (e.g., 'Box Packing — Line 3').
Describe the steps the operator performs, any part orientations, fixturing, vision needs, or handoffs.
How complex is the manipulation, positioning or decision-making required? Higher means harder for a cobot to handle.
1.0 10.0
Operator cycle time for one unit or one repetition. Use seconds for precision (e.g., 45).
How consistent are operators at this task? Higher means more variability (worse for quality/repeatability).
1.0 10.0
Factors that make integration harder (dust, temperature, moisture, tight spaces, moving conveyors).
Typical part weight or payload the cobot must handle.
Average number of completed units per hour today.
Planned working hours per shift (exclude breaks as appropriate).
How many shifts the cell runs each day on average.
Planned annual operating days (e.g., 250).
Conservative estimate of percent throughput increase the cobot will enable (enter numeric percent, e.g., 10).
Use the relevant value for decision-making (price, margin, or avoided cost). Clarify in Notes which you used.
Include wages, benefits, and burden relevant to the operating labor performing the task.
If multiple operators work simultaneously on a unit, enter the effective number (usually 1). This adjusts labor-savings calculation.
Approximate annual cost of scrap and rework for this task or line.
Estimate percent reduction in scrap/rework if cobot improves consistency. Enter 0 if none expected.
Purchase or capital cost per cobot needed for this task. If pilot uses rental, enter equivalent capitalized cost.
Cost to integrate (end effector, vision, safety fencing if needed, PLC work, SW), pilot program costs and training for first cell.
Annual expected maintenance, spare parts, and service agreements relevant to total cost of ownership.
Planned length of the pilot. Use this to plan learning and measureability windows.
Quick risk estimate for operator acceptance and change management needs.
Record important assumptions, measurement plan for pilot (which metrics will be tracked), safety considerations, and who owns maintenance.
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