FEBRUARY 2019 OPINION
The rise of
the robot
It’s vital to engage your people as Industry 4.0 increasingly
begins to take hold of the way the shopfl oor operates
BY LUCIEN WYNN, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, OLIVE COMMUNICATIONS
A dvances in automation, from
robotics, big data, machine
learning, artifi cial intelligence,
and the Internet of Things
(IoT), have dramatically improved factory
production since the 1970s when such
technology fi rst appeared on the scene.
The introduction of robotics has,
according to reports, generated a 16%
increase in production across the entire
manufacturing sector in the US since 2010
– so it’s no surprise that the global robotics
market is estimated to be worth almost
$500 billion by 2025.
But the automation of systems seems
to still be very much for the large-scale,
big brands or heavily fi nancially backed
manufacturers. Semi-automated warehouse
and traditional, manually operated
environments remain heavily in existence
across the mid to smaller end of the market.
Breaking the cost barrier
Cost still remains a barrier to adoption for
many manufacturers despite the cost of
automation coming down as technology
evolves and AI becomes the norm. Over the
next fi ve to ten years solutions will continue
to get cheaper and simpler, making them
even more accessible and aff ordable to
manufacturers and organisations smaller
than the mighty global giants.
We’ve seen software as a service and
cloud computing freeing up smaller and
mid-sized companies from the cost and
stress of maintaining crucial IT systems.
Now Robots as a Service (RaaS) equally
allows automation to be rented – a more
cost-eff ective model for many, especially
those on a modest budget.
RaaS means manufacturers of all sizes
can benefi t from advances in automation
– from AI through to IoT through to
cobots (collaborative robots), which are
sweeping across the industry, accounting
for 4% of the robotics industrial shipments.
Cobots work alongside humans to take on
routine jobs or dangerous tasks, freeing up
employees for more challenging work.
IoT, AI and machine learning also works
in integration with cobots by providing data
analytics based insight to manufacturers
in real time, which is fed through from
always on connected devices. For example,
using sensors, a robot can understand when
a worker is in the vicinity or recognise
potential risks in production quality,
slowing down or stopping production to
allow a human input.
Invest in people
Like with any advances in technology, with
automation comes a need for people at the
core; driving, managing and implementing a
new digital way of thinking and working.
Over the next 12 months at least, the
manufacturing sector will need to be
on a major reskilling drive. According
to a Cranfi eld University study, 62% of
manufacturers identifi ed a shortage of
skills in robotics and artifi cial intelligence,
55% revealed a shortage of data analysis
skills and 46% showed a shortage of
innovative skills.
Digital and automated advances – also
including 3D printing, technology focused
service delivery models, automated trucks
and equipment – will require a completely
new type of skilled personnel – maybe
manufacturing scientists or advanced
material scientists?
The rise in big data also means that
collaboration between parties has never
been more important; from production
managers to data analysis operators.
Manufacturing management solutions
that incorporate electronic human
resource management tools; training and
competence software, online site induction
software, materials management plans,
risk, incident and hazard analytics that can
capture and analyse big data and health
and safety information management tools,
such as Safety Bank, will all be important to
driving business success.
As with any advances in technology,
automation can bring fi nancial, personnel
and implementation challenges to
manufacturers. Consider how the business
needs to change in the next fi ve years?
what investment, if any, is needed, are
there any skills gaps that need fi lling, and
how will the business processes change?
Asking yourself these questions and more,
will help manufacturers that haven’t
already fully automated their systems, be
ready for the competitive onslaught of
Industry 4.0.
Have you seen the benefi ts of implementing robotics on the shopfl oor of your factory?
We want to hear from you. Email: chris.beck@markallengroup.com
www.manufacturingmanagement.co.uk 11
Thomas Söllner /stock.adobe.com
Manufacturing needs to be
on a major reskilling driveÓ
/www.manufacturingmanagement.co.uk
/stock.adobe.com
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