When most of us think of automation in manufacturing, we tend to think of mechanical arms putting together cars on an assembly line. These machines have been with us for decades, and they’ve helped to drive down the cost and drive up the quality, of the assembly process. When they were first introduced, many worried that the move would result in mass unemployment among skilled factory workers. But have those prophecies been vindicated?
Let’s take a look at a few of the pros and cons of introducing assembly-line machines into an automotive factory.
Pros
Safety
One of the main benefits of machines is that they can’t sustain injuries– they can only be damaged or destroyed. In a situation as potentially dangerous as an assembly line, where sparks are flying and tons of metal are being lifted overhead, this is no small concern.
In most cases, robots will not fully replace human workers and in these instances, workwear and protective equipment will still be crucial to the safety of employees. However, broadly speaking, work done by machines is less likely to produce accidents and injuries. This is a good thing not only for ethical reasons but for legal ones too.
Consistency
Machines are capable of achieving far more consistent results than people, especially when it comes to tasks like assembly. A mechanical arm can be programmed to attach rivets at a given location, perfectly, every time. Skilled workers, instead, need extensive training before they can achieve a comparable feat.
Increased productivity
Mechanised manufacturing tends to be significantly more productive than traditional forms of manufacturing. Firms can swap the ongoing costs of labour for a one-off investment in capital – in the form of equipment. It costs much less to run even a sophisticated machine than it would cost to employ workers to achieve the same result.
Cons
Investment
As we’ve just mentioned, kitting out an automotive factory with robots represents a significant investment. Only larger firms often have the ability to make a full transition effectively.
Skills required
Robots need to be continually tuned and maintained. This is a job that requires a particular skill set, which existing workers likely do not possess. As such, the business will need to provide retraining and new and specialised staff will be hired for this purpose.
Job losses
Mechanisation will inevitably lead to some workers losing their jobs. Workers in lower-skilled parts of the world will find themselves more vulnerable. When the pace of the change is as quick as it has been in recent times, this is a particular concern. Accordingly to a study by Oxford Economics, China saw a near-doubling of robots in the automotive sector in a five-year period between 2011 and 2016. While we’ve been here before with the Luddites and the textile industry, there’s reason to suppose that the pace and scale of change might cause significant disruption this time around.