UK manufacturing advances hampered by reluctance to invest in robotic automation
The Automotive sector has undergone a robotic revolution, but likely candidates going forward include pharmaceuticals and especially food, where many of the physically-demanding manual jobs are pretty unrewarding for human workers and can even lead to health problems such as repetitive strain injury. So why the worry?
A recent survey of UK manufacturers carried out on behalf of ABB Robotics has revealed that concerns over cost of ownership and lack of experience in implementing and using robots are preventing many companies from investing in robotic automation. It is apparent that there is a clear divide between the experiences of those who have used and benefitted from robotic automation and those who have yet to try it.
The survey received responses from 221 companies of all sizes, including SMEs. Of these, 134 are not currently using robots, with 65 ruling out introducing a robot in the near future. When asked to specify their reasons, 21 cited cost of purchase and ownership and 38 gave lack of experience as major reasons for shying away from investing in robotic automation.
“The survey reveals the need for more to be done to educate UK manufacturers both about the case for investing in robots and the help available in the market to enable them to get the most from their investment,” says Mike Wilson, General Industry Sales and Marketing Manager for ABB’s UK Robotics business. “Despite significant falls in the cost of robots and robot systems in recent years, there is a lingering misconception that robotic automation is prohibitively expensive for UK companies, particularly in the SME sector.”
“There is real evidence to show that an investment in a robot can often be recouped within just 12 to 18 months. This, coupled with the ready availability of training and support services from many UK robot suppliers and their partners, means that many companies in the UK could be missing out on the very real benefits of introducing robotic automation to their processes.”
It is understandable to be concerned about job security. So it’s little wonder that the growing presence of robots in manufacturing makes many people anxious about being displaced by automated systems. The good news is that robots are actually extremely good at creating and protecting jobs, as revealed by a recent study.
The report from London market research company Metra Martech on behalf of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) found that robots will help create more than two million jobs over the next eight years. While it acknowledges that certain jobs will be reduced, it stresses that many more jobs are set to be created thanks to the boost in productivity and competitiveness that robotics deliver in manufacturing enterprises.
The potential impact of robotics in any given country will depend on how many jobs depend on manufacturing. While manufacturing accounts for 11% of employment in the USA, for instance, it’s 24% in Germany and even higher in South Korea. But the adoption rate of robots (measured in number of robots per 10,000 employees in manufacturing) between 2008 and 2015 is on the rise everywhere
Of course, people’s fear remains that the sole driving force for companies to invest in robotics is to drive down labour costs. While it would be naïve to suggest that this isn’t a consideration in some cases, other major drivers include increasing manufacturing precision and production consistency, as well as reducing work-related accidents and injuries, all of which provide obvious benefits for people looking for a safe working environment in a company with a secure future.
In short, the addition of robots to the workforce can be the shot in the arm that manufacturing businesses need to compete in the global market, safeguarding jobs and providing benefits for both workers and employers.
It is now possible to quickly estimate the potential return on investment in robotic automation using ABB’s online Return on Investment calculator tool. To try the calculator, please visit http://new.abb.com/products/robotics/roi-calculator.
To help companies to assess the scope for introducing robotic automation into their processes, ABB offers a free, no-obligation Productivity & Efficiency Appraisal service. Lasting half a day, the appraisal includes a visit by an ABB engineer who will help to spot potential areas where robots could help deliver productivity and efficiency savings. For more information, or to book an appraisal, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 01908 350300 ref. ‘Free appraisal’.
