We’ve all read the hyperbolic headlines about imminent robot takeovers. We know that mankind is going to be enslaved to robot overlords, and we know that automatons are gunning for factory jobs. While we probably shouldn’t worry about being enslaved to robots, we do need to consider how automation will impact employment. However, it’s not just manufacturing that we have to think about.
Manufacturing may be where people worry about robots taking human jobs, but they probably should worry more about retail, restaurants, and financial services. Manufacturing is ready for robots, but these currently high-growth areas are not prepared for automation.
Industrial robots are commonplace in factories and warehouses, and have been for some time. If you take away automation from manufacturing, you send humanity back in time a few centuries. Automation is an integral part of industry. This is probably why people are so concerned about employment in manufacturing.
Since automation does so much of the heavy lifting, it makes sense to assume that improved automation technologies will negatively affect factory and warehouse workers.
It’s not super sophisticated robots that are shaking up the manufacturing industry, though. It’s Big Data. Intelligent systems and connectivity that the world has never seen before. Since automation has been essential to manufacturing for so long, the manufacturing industry is better prepared for these changes.
However, retail, service industries, and financial services are far less prepared for improvements in automation. One report suggests that almost 40% of the jobs in the United States could be automated in the next 15 years. Manufacturing has been dealing with constant improvements in automation, but many industries are dealing with this for the first time.
One thing is clear, though. Automation is only going to continue to grow in importance. Make sure that your machinery is ready. Call 479-422-0390 for Indramat repair, service, or replacement.