Jinpao Precision scales high-mix aerospace production with AI cobots

Jinpao Precision supplies high-precision metal mechanisms to aerospace, communications, medical and automation equipment industries. A core characteristic of its business is “high-mix, low-volume” manufacturing, particularly for aerospace and server chassis components.

Frequent product changeovers created significant operational challenges. Conventional automation systems lacked flexibility and required lengthy recalibration during line changes. At the same time, manual visual inspections were heavily relied upon, limiting throughput and introducing variability in quality—an unacceptable risk for aerospace-grade components.

Jinpao Precision needed an automation approach that could adapt quickly to product variation, reduce changeover downtime and ensure consistent inspection quality across multiple processes.

AI-enabled cobots for flexible automation
To address these constraints, Jinpao Precision implemented a large-scale collaborative robot solution from Techman Robot. Nearly 50 TM AI Cobots equipped with built-in AI vision were integrated across the production lines.

Unlike systems that rely on externally mounted cameras, the cobots combine vision recognition directly with robot control. This architecture allows rapid visual localisation of parts with different shapes and sizes, enabling faster line changes without extensive reprogramming or mechanical adjustment.

The built-in vision capability proved particularly suited to Jinpao Precision’s production rhythm, where product variants change frequently and setup time directly impacts productivity.

Eliminating line change downtime and manual inspection
The AI vision system allows cobots to adapt automatically to different workpieces, significantly reducing downtime during line changes. This plug-and-play approach removed one of the main bottlenecks in the aerospace and server chassis lines.

In addition, the cobots are used extensively for automated optical inspection tasks. Using AI deep learning, they verify screw fastening, rivet hole punching and dimensional tolerances of metal components. This replaced manual visual inspection, eliminating errors caused by fatigue and ensuring stable, repeatable quality control aligned with aerospace requirements.




Broad process coverage and measurable capacity gains
The automation programme spans 10 major manufacturing processes, including screw fastening, riveting, stamping, spray painting and spot welding. Multiple cobot models are deployed to match application requirements, including high-payload units for more demanding tasks.

According to deployment data, automating repetitive and hazardous operations has freed approximately 80,000 hours of human labour per year. This capacity release has helped address labour shortages while allowing employees previously assigned to high-risk tasks, such as stamping operations, to move into higher-value supervisory and technical roles.

Scalable deployment and internal capability building
Beyond immediate productivity gains, the project demonstrated strong scalability. Jinpao Precision replicated and deployed eight automated stations on a server assembly line within one month. This rapid expansion was enabled by simplified programming and structured training provided during the rollout.

Within one year, Jinpao Precision’s internal automation team had developed the capability to deploy and fine-tune new cobot stations independently, reducing reliance on external system integrators and supporting ongoing process optimisation.

Supporting long-term digital transformation
The collaboration illustrates how AI-enabled collaborative robots can support complex, high-mix manufacturing environments where traditional automation falls short. By combining flexible vision-guided automation with scalable deployment, Jinpao Precision has improved throughput, stabilised quality and created a foundation for continued digital transformation in precision manufacturing.

The project sets a reference for applying AI-driven cobots to aerospace and high-precision industries requiring both flexibility and stringent quality control.