MILKING WITH ROBOTS - WHAT EMPLOYEES NEED TO KNOW - PART 3 - SOFTWARE

Previous articles in this series addressed things that employees need to know about cows and robots. Almost everyone who works in the robot barn needs to be familiar with both of those. The series concludes with computer software. That is, primarily the computer program that operates your robotic milking system, but may also include a herd management program, and more – if those records are kept on a different platform.

Basic software operation can be divided into entry, and monitoring. Recording calvings, dry-offs, inseminations, and pen moves are examples of entry. Monitoring, or troubleshooting, could apply to cow performance, cow health, and robot performance. Begin by deciding who will be responsible for each of these tasks on your farm. Some farms keep records uniform by giving one person responsibility for all of the entry tasks. That works until a cow freshens when the entry person is off, and she can’t be milked in the robot until the calving is entered. Similarly, managers might be responsible for strategic robot performance monitoring, but the night and weekend crews should understand enough to troubleshoot and resolve common alarms. There are single operator units where one person is responsible for all of the above. On larger farms, several people might be involved. Take some time to think about who will do what on your farm.

Consider who will have access to which platforms, and in what language. Mobile apps can

put information like fetch lists and cow location in the employee’s hands when and where they need them. In some cases, apps can even allow each worker to use programs in their preferred language. But the mobile app may also allow accidental editing of information that should not be edited. Look at essential processes and determine what access is needed to complete them. Correct entry of a calving in the robot program may involve an initial entry in the herd management program, and initiating communication between the herd management program and the robot program. Employees with responsibilities that cross programs and platforms need to know how all the pieces work together.

Once you determine who will be responsible for what, you can begin training for specific areas. When I supported startups for an equipment manufacturer, I learned to start small and keep it simple.

For monitoring, start with a few key performance indicators on the robot program dashboard. Workers will have a better understanding of why, and be more involved in improvement, if they are taught to track things like daily production, milking frequency, and milking duration. Next, choose one report to monitor cow performance, one to monitor robot performance, and one to monitor cow health. Add more reports with more details as questions arise and comfort level increases.

For entry, begin by teaching workers what needs to be done in order to milk a fresh cow. A written and laminated guide with screenshots will help. Recording a video of the process can also be effective. With experience, move on to tasks like sorting cows, and diverting milk.

Training employees to work with computer software on robotic dairies begins with some big picture decisions about work flows and responsibilities. Once you have decided who will do what, begin to work on how. Consider what devices will be used, and what languages will be preferred. Begin with simple tasks and build over time so people are not overwhelmed. Cow Corner has the flexibility to work with your employees, your facilities, and your goals, to customize a training program for your farm.