From the grocery store to the factory floor, once common jobs have become tasks done through robotic technology. The ability to automate work and use artificial intelligence to augment everyday tasks is ever growing, and the nature of change in the workforce is accelerating as robotics in manufacturing, the whir of drones grows louder in the air and driverless cars are poised to join us on the streets in cities nationwide.
Technologies such as big data, advanced analytics, the internet of things, wearables, advanced robotics, learning machines and 3D printing are finding their way into factories.
Despite the sluggishness of change on today’s factory floors, this digital wave is slowly but surely revolutionizing manufacturing, contributing to major productivity enhancements and the emergence of innovative production paradigms that deliver more tailored and efficient solutions.
This transformation has profound implications for manufacturing employment, affecting everything from the size of the workforce, to the skillsets required and the locations of factories. Companies like Google, Apple, Foxconn and Amazon are investing heavily in robotics, and more will join them as technology advances.
A report by PricewaterhouseCoopers, PwC, shed light on what the robotic takeover means for the factory and workers. It noted: “Industrial robots are on the verge of revolutionizing manufacturing. As they become smarter, faster and cheaper, they’re being called upon to do more. They’re taking on more “human” capabilities and traits such as sensing, dexterity, memory and trainability. As a result, they’re taking on more jobs – such as picking and packaging, testing or inspecting products, or assembling minute electronics.
As noted, it is becoming clearer that robotics is here to stay within the manufacturing segment. While progress is constantly being made, a fully automated manufacturing system is still unproven. As the revolution continues to swell, employing UKA to design and manufacture your lens or lenses for multiple disciplines is the right thing to do. Our complete in-house program offers you reliability and excellence.
According to Vanguard, “Germany is leveraging robotics to grow the nation’s manufacturing base and bring factories (read “jobs”) back home. It’s no coincidence that the country with 43 per cent of Europe’s factory robot population also enjoys an export ratio of 63 per cent. Government incentive programs encourage German manufacturers to adapt automation and help to sustain the nation’s global competitiveness.
The report added: “In the big picture, automation means progress. Robots are designed to perform the same dull and repetitive tasks currently performed by manual labor—but in a safer, faster and more consistent fashion. As robots become a core part of a competitive manufacturing business, the demand for higher skilled robot-savvy engineers, programmers and service technicians will grow. And the more high-wage job opportunities are created, the more Americans can enjoy a higher standard of living—improving our economic status in the world.”
Universe Kogaku designs and manufactures optical lenses for robotics, security, high tech and electronic applications. We stock 1000’s of standard lens assemblies and can custom design a solution for scanners, CCTV, CCD/CMOS, medical imaging, surveillance systems, machine vision and night vision systems.