Although robotics in the manufacturing industry may seem like a cutting-edge development, robots have actually been used in manufacturing as early as the 60s and 70s. Today, robots are smarter and more flexible than ever, able to operate and perform a variety of tasks with little to no human intervention. But what exactly does that mean? Are humans no longer needed in manufacturing? Will robots replace the ordinary manufacturing worker? Is it pointless to look for a job in manufacturing because of robotics?
We answer these questions and more as we reveal the truth behind 3 common myths about robotics in manufacturing.
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Robots Are Too Expensive
This is a more of a half-truth instead of an outright myth. True, robotics equipment doesn’t come cheap. But manufacturing companies also understand that the return on investment (ROI) of robots is very high. That’s basically the entire premise behind manufacturing robotics—efficiency and cost savings.
Today, robots operate alongside their human operators, eliminating simple tasks to make manufacturing processes faster, more cost-efficient, and less likely to be bogged down by errors. In other words, robots in manufacturing are an investment, one that pays for itself in months.
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Robots Will Take Your Manufacturing Job
From self-driving cars to movies about artificial intelligence dooming the planet, much has been said and done to make robots a part of our daily lives. While it’s true that some advanced robotics eliminate some jobs in manufacturing, especially those involving repetitive assembly tasks, the field of robotics is also creating new jobs.
Take Germany, for example. German manufacturing companies are using three times more robots than U.S. manufacturers, but are still employing more humans. True, robots are disruptive in manufacturing, and everywhere else for that matter, but the industry is far from completely ditching the human element of building things.
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Robots Are Too Difficult for the Average Worker
Yes and no. Sure, the average manufacturing worker may not be able to build a robot from scratch. But the creators of these amazing machines have gone to great lengths to make them easy to program and operate, with the goal of making robots more accessible to people who aren’t familiar with how they work. Yes, there will be a learning curve, but nothing a bit of training won’t fix.
Again, the entire premise behind robotics in manufacturing is to perform tasks in the most efficient way possible. And part of that is making sure that the robots themselves are easy to operate.
Bottom line? Manufacturing robotics should be embraced instead of feared. For more news and updates about the manufacturing industry, be sure to follow this blog. If you need help looking for a job in manufacturing, let the staffing specialists of Top Notch Personnel point you in the right direction. Contact our experts to learn how our recruitment solutions can help you.
