As robots and their AI-enabled use cases become more frequent on factory floors, manufacturers should deploy these capabilities in a way that strengthens – not hinders – the overall workforce.
The concept of robotics in manufacturing isn’t new. For years, companies across industries have implemented and experimented with robotics in their operations to increase efficiency, safety, and precision. The manufacturing industry is no exception – in fact, according to Deloitte’s 2023 Manufacturing Outlook , 62% of manufacturers said they planned to implement robotics and automation to increase operational efficiencies over the next 12 months, making it the #1 technology being focused on by manufacturers at the time.
Fast forward to 2024, and manufacturers are now entering a new phase in robotics growth driven by AI – including Generative AI (GenAI). It’s a tool that’s opened the door to a host of new use cases because it lowers some historical barriers to automation. Manufacturers eyeing growth have an opportunity to leapfrog future competition by making strategic choices around robotics and AI – and it starts by understanding the full scope of what’s possible.
For manufacturers, there are several new opportunities to incorporate AI into their operations, but they must navigate several areas before implementation, including improving trust between robots and human workers and building a synchronized ecosystem of human talent and technology to create a workforce of the future.
See also: Industrial Robotics Driven by Increased Job Site Risk Exploring new robotics use cases
We’re starting to see robots of all forms become more commercially available because of greater overall demand and greater feasibility in usage, meaning they are not only becoming easier to operate but also more robust and able to solve for higher complexity and autonomous environments. Both capex and lifecycle costs are decreasing while reliability is increasing, making them more appealing to use in an increasingly software-defined manufacturing environment. Robots bring incredible opportunities for manufacturers in four major categories: Freeing humans from the mundane : when robots take over repetitive, manual tasks, humans can maximize their time for innovation and strategic work.
Streamlining the supply chain : robots can […]
The Rise of Robotics: How AI is Reshaping Robotics in Manufacturing
