Robotics Is Driving A Manufacturing Revolution

I recently had the pleasure of collaborating with PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, on a research study exploring the state of the robotics industry, its key markets, recent technology developments, and where the future lies.

Our project involved interviews with many interested parties that included robot builders, OEMs, technology providers and system integrators, processing and packaging professionals, academics and, of course, end users. Participants represented a variety of market sectors, from traditional heavy industries to manufacturers of pharmaceuticals and household products.

What did we learn? In brief, the robotics market is poised for a significant transformation, emerging beyond the automotive industry into new, non-traditional industries such as food and beverage, consumer goods, life sciences, electronics, and packaging. Here’s a closer look at some of our findings.

Times are changing

Robotics is no longer just a tool on the plant floor. It is a force in the industry driving a revolution of change in manufacturing. We’re now in the age of smart manufacturing, with advances such as the Industrial Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, augmented reality and machine learning. The explosion in e-commerce, and how it is changing the future of manufacturing, is a major driver.

Festo is pioneering soft grippers for use on lightweight robots that work along with humans. The OctopusGripper has a pneumatically controlled soft silicone structure with vacuum-based holding force.

Festo is pioneering soft grippers for use on lightweight robots that work along with humans. The OctopusGripper has a pneumatically controlled soft silicone structure with vacuum-based holding force.

A new culture and processes are pivotal when implementing smart manufacturing. According to our research, here are the top improvements users expect robots to achieve.

Reduce costs. The cost of robotics is going down, and some manufacturers say usage will likely double in the next 10 years. Robots and cobots are also filling the labor void. The absence of skilled workers is top-of-mind across the industry and will continue to drive the use of robotics to supplement and replace human labor. We constantly hear that labor is hard to find, and finding skilled labor is even harder. The trend is certainly driving an increased interest in robotics.

Improve safety. Workers doing repetitive tasks in a manufacturing operation could likely be taken over by a robot, and that will improve worker safety. And there are practical situations where it’s just safer to rely on a robot, such as in many cutting, packing, picking and stacking applications.

Increase output and quality. Robots work tirelessly and don’t need to stop for lunch breaks or shift changes. And they do the same thing all the time, exactly the same way. That can increase throughput and improve productivity, quality and consistency.

Enable flexible manufacturing. Users and consumers want more variety. We want convenience, quality, and we want six different sizes in one package. It’s amazing what that does to the manufacturing mind when you must rely on shorter product runs. Especially with the emergence of AI and self-learning robots, this is creating a much more flexible manufacturing environment. The evolution of the Industrial Internet of Things, with devices being digital, connected, integrated, talking and learning together, is driving this as well. The declining cost of robots is encouraging that in the marketplace, as will 5G networking capabilities.