There are many good reasons for the growth in industrial robots and manufacturers know them all. But when it comes to embracing transformative change in the highly controlled and intensely process-driven world of the factory floor, personal motivation plays a powerful role in making it real.
The looming question of recession is no longer if, but when. For manufacturers, the lack of flexibility they need to successfully navigate the uncertainty is exacerbated by labor shortages and rigid automation. The good news: collaborative robots boost flexibility and more.
Artificial intelligence (AI)-driven collaborative robots are not some futuristic technology that manufacturers have to wait for. The AI that makes cobots smart, capable and effective is here and at work today – improving productivity and quality in manufacturing operations large and small.
As humans and machines engage in direct working relationships, how it works is interesting. Making these connections successful draws from an unlikely source: animation and video gaming, where innovation gives autonomous characters – and robots – ways to engage in dialogue using non-verbal cues.
It’s a great time for cobots. The market potential seems limitless. It makes sense – these solutions give manufacturers relief from the challenges of labor and a path to the bright future of Industry 4.0. But how real is the hype?
Robots have come a long way since the days when automation solutions relied on hard-wiring, expensive programming and fixed installations. Unleashed and powered by software, these smart machines are key to helping manufacturers unlock the potential of the digital factory and Industry 4.0.
Smart, collaborative robots have crossed over from futuristic fantasy to solving the real-world challenge of labor in manufacturing. Today, robots are working in manufacturing to increase productivity and efficiency; soon robots will help manufacturers run more agile and innovative operations.
Global manufacturers are looking for ways to increase competitiveness, productivity and value. In China, the formula for success increasingly centers on the accelerated adoption of robots.
As manufacturers put their backs into making Industry 4.0 a reality, a closer look at smart, collaborative robots makes sense. Able to engage based on a common understanding of the way things work these robots know things that will contribute to building the future of world-class operations.
More than a 250,000 manufacturers in the US are categorized as “small enterprises.” Now, with access to smart, collaborative robots, these companies have ways to overcome labor shortages, improve productivity and expand capacity.
Jim Lawton 