Challenge current misconceptions

While cobots are widely available to manufacturers of all sizes, these modern automation solutions are still under-appreciated. The McKinsey 2023 study “Unlocking the Industrial Potential of Robotics and Automation” shows that the biggest barriers to implementing automation are the cost of capital and lack of internal knowledge and experience with the technology. It turns out that when it comes to cost, cobots can achieve a return on investment (ROI) in just 12 months.

A common misconception is that cobots are difficult to implement or use. The friendly user interface is designed, which means that employees do not need professional knowledge to operate and interact. At the same time, PolyScope software, designed specifically for use with cobots, makes it intuitive to program cobots to complete tasks. In addition, the light weight and small footprint of collaborative robots like the UR20 also eliminate the problem of insufficient factory floor space.

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UR20 Collaborative robot

Finally, the advent of artificial intelligence and automated tools such as Chat-GPT has heightened concerns that robots could soon take over human jobs. Manufacturers worried about a backlash may be hesitant to start deploying collaborative automation and reap the benefits. But in fact, cobots are designed to work alongside humans, not replace them. For example, the use of collaborative robots on the factory floor enables employees to work with robots rather than like them. As manufacturers seek to increase the stability of their operations in 2024, allowing cobots to join the workforce can still boost significant production benefits.

Look forward to the New Year

When manufacturers carefully consider their budgets for 2024, automation and collaborative robotics should be top of mind. Deploying these technologies is now critical to improving productivity, quality and efficiency. Organizations that hesitate to invest today risk losing hard-won momentum and being overtaken by more innovative competitors.

The future of manufacturing is here, and it belongs to those who are willing to innovate and automate.