Over the past year, manufacturers have experienced multiple challenges in the face of an unpredictable global economy. Moving into 2024, improving productivity will become an important starting point for the manufacturing industry to cross the cycle. The adoption of automation technology in accelerating manufacturing processes is a new type of solution, according to a newly released report by Pricewaterhousecoopers in the UK, automation technology is expected to contribute $15 trillion to the global economy by 2030. However, many companies currently do not have the funds or resources to deploy expensive industrial robots on a large scale.

In this case, collaborative robots (cobots) came into being. They are lightweight robotic arms that automatically perform repetitive tasks that require both human and technical attention. Collaborative robots are compatible with traditional industrial robots commonly used by manufacturers and work side by side with workers, which has many advantages to promote production efficiency, ensure employee safety, improve working conditions and enhance employee welfare.

Reconfiguration of the 2024 production line

Due to the nature of the industry, manufacturing workers often face what are called tedious, dirty, and dangerous jobs. Palletizing (the process of stacking, loading and securing goods to pallets), for example, is traditionally a manual operation that requires repeated and labor-intensive work by employees. In the long run, this can lead to musculoskeletal injuries and mental fatigue. In terms of factory output, uneven quality has become more common.

Collaborative robots can take on these boring tasks, preventing employee injuries while reducing human error and improving production quality. Since very few humans are required to operate collaborative robots, these autonomous partners could help alleviate the labor shortage that many manufacturers are currently facing. Collaborative robots enable workers to be more productive and focus on more valuable tasks that require more cognition, flexibility, and rationality, further unlocking more business value.

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As employees take on more meaningful work, job satisfaction increases. This can go a long way towards improving employee retention in an industry facing a workforce gap. Potential employees who might once have stayed away from manufacturing because they had to do high-risk and monotonous work now see a different future and are excited and excited by the prospect of using modern collaborative technologies. Reduce employee turnover, build a stable future talent echelon, and ensure that productivity does not fall but rises.

Narrowing the gap with competitors

In the face of increasingly diverse consumer behavior, cobots provide the flexibility to adapt to the environment of manufacturers, whether they need to expand or shrink production, or need to enter new markets, those who cannot adapt quickly may be left behind. Therefore, automation technology is essential for manufacturers if they want to keep up with the competition.

Not only do cobots have the flexibility to scale up production, but they can perform any task, from palletizing and machine maintenance to quality checks, without taking a break. If needed, cobots can be programmed and redeployed to perform multiple tasks and can be switched easily. By eliminating potential problems between different functions, cobots can reduce plant downtime and increase overall productivity.

Since the manpower required for machine operation is reduced, the operation shift of the machine is extended. Downtime is minimized, meaning the possibility of a 24/7 plant. Manufacturers are likely to see faster production efficiencies and delivery of products than ever before, with a huge productivity boost as 2024 approaches.