Robotics replacements: Myth or Manufacturing Reality?
No matter which manufacturing sector you’re in, robots are entering it. The ongoing skilled labour shortage, plus the need for speed have brought on the perfect conditions for their grand entrance onto the Australian manufacturing scene, and there’s no denying their value.
Yet, like with all forms of change, human nature makes resistance it’s first response. It’s not performance that is the issue. Rather, the real fear blocking many manufacturers from adopting robots is that they’ll perform so well that long-established staff members will have to be let go.
Is this fear warranted?
A new kind of factory culture
Since the Industrial Revolution, labour has been the driving force for production. That, as we’ve seen, continues to be the case. The rules of the game are simply being shifted.
While the thought of losing staff that have become like family keeps many from making the change, those who do are keeping their precious labour force on board – and even growing it in many cases.
How, you ask?
By either:
- Having more production volume to deal with, or
- Diversifying into new fields
In the turbo-speed world we live in, this is beneficial in a multitude of ways. Diversification creates new roles and opportunities for both employee and company growth. Higher production volumes create more work in the back-end, which the insights of someone who works on the factory floor are invaluable.
In both cases, workers get to stay within the company, and grow with it. That’s what we’ve been seeing in factories which have adopted robots – and it’s not a one-off observation.
The perfect environment for growth
Imagine you’re in a stone shop, cutting everything by hand. You have two staff members working with you, but the order are piling up. Then you upgrade to a stone CNC machine. Those same 2 workers are still with you, hut this time, they’re helping get four times the volume of product out.
It’s the same with robots. No matter how advanced the technology is, it needs human guidance – and who better to do it than the staff that know how things in your shop run? It’s not just about their skill set. It’s also about the work culture and fit. Both of these aspects are instrumental in your workforce – and it’s in your best interests to keep existing staff on board as you evolve.
In fact, it’s almost inevitable, considering how much productivity can increase with a product like the Sandrob in your factory.
Don’t just take our word for it. Ask our team for specific examples, and we’ll fill you in.
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