By Patrick Burnson, Executive Editor February 7, 2017
In a new manufacturing outlook report focusing on the automotive and industrial sectors, AlixPartners observes that many of the labor-cost advantages associated with near-shoring may be lost if companies fail to spend more on automation in the future.
The consultancy notes that automation capabilities have improved dramatically, and implementation expenses have come down. As a consequence this kind of technology can help manufacturers augmentor entirely replace functions previously performed entirely by humans.
To exploit those technologies, manufacturers will likely have to make capital-intensive investments, says Foster Finley, a managing director at AlixPartners in New York. But they should understand, too, that automation cannot replace a human workforce.
Instead, adds Finley, automation shifts the focus to a new set of critical skills.
As automation technology becomes more available and more affordable, companies will have to adopt longer-term views on developing and retaining talent aligned with the tactical use of robotics, he says.
The survey, which polled manufacturing and distribution companies in the U.S. and Western Europe, finds that 69% of respondents believe near shoring is a possible opportunity to meet demand from consumers, up from 40% in last years survey.
This increase in near shoring has led to labor challenges, however says Finley. Many respondents are having a hard time filling roles like product engineers and frontline supervisors.
Along with these labor issues, two-thirds of respondents said they plan to invest significantly in automation technologies.
So what we may expect is more spend in human resources with higher salaries and other incentives, at the same time companies will place greater reliance on technology.
Researchers note that automotive and electronics manufacturers have been the biggest adopters of automation technology thus far. But companies in other sectorssuch as pharmaceuticals, instrumentation and measurement devices, medical equipment, and pulp and paper will likely begin to shift more of their manufacturing capacity to robots in the coming years.
Follow this link:
AlixPartners examines automation in manufacturing and logistics management - Logistics Management
- The Automation Conference [Last Updated On: December 9th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 9th, 2016]
- The Best Home Automation Systems of 2016 | Top Ten Reviews [Last Updated On: December 24th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 24th, 2016]
- Compact Automation - Actuators, Hydraulic Cylinders, Linear ... [Last Updated On: December 24th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 24th, 2016]
- What is Home Automation? | Home Automation Systems [Last Updated On: December 24th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 24th, 2016]
- Job Seekers - Automation Personnel Services [Last Updated On: December 24th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 24th, 2016]
- iAutomation [Last Updated On: December 25th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 25th, 2016]
- Beyond Automation - hbr.org [Last Updated On: December 25th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 25th, 2016]
- Automation The Car Company Tycoon Game on Steam [Last Updated On: December 25th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 25th, 2016]
- Automation - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: December 25th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 25th, 2016]
- Build automation - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: December 26th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 26th, 2016]
- Home - Enerwave Home Automation [Last Updated On: December 27th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 27th, 2016]
- Automation | Technologies | Systems | Integrator ... [Last Updated On: December 27th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 27th, 2016]
- Automation - DESHAZO [Last Updated On: December 27th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 27th, 2016]
- Custom Automation & Machine Design | Automation GT [Last Updated On: December 27th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 27th, 2016]
- IT Automation - BMC [Last Updated On: December 27th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 27th, 2016]
- Werner Electric | Automation [Last Updated On: January 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: January 28th, 2017]
- Automationtechies | Automation Engineering Recruiting [Last Updated On: January 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: January 28th, 2017]
- Automation - Mazak Corporation [Last Updated On: January 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: January 28th, 2017]
- Automation | Food Engineering [Last Updated On: January 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: January 28th, 2017]
- Test Automation Services for Development of Regression ... [Last Updated On: January 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: January 28th, 2017]
- UI Automation Overview - msdn.microsoft.com [Last Updated On: February 5th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 5th, 2017]
- The Evolution of Automation and What It Means for the Integration Industry - Commercial Integrator [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Automation, robots could replace 250000 public sector workers in the next 15 years - Computer Business Review [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- New telecom transformation goals require service automation - TechTarget [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Automation expected to displace insurance underwriters, real estate brokers - CIO Dive [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- The Perks Of Automation And The Risks: Why To Think Twice About Getting Into That Driverless Uber - Forbes [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Voices Reinventing enterprise finance by overhauling AP automation - Accounting Today [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- DFLabs Launches the First Security Automation and Orchestration Platform based Upon Supervised Active Intelligence - Business Wire (press release) [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- VIDEO: Going Big on Automation in a Small Footprint Facility - ENGINEERING.com [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Building a better model of human-automation interaction - Phys.org - Phys.Org [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Cruise Automation Is Testing an App For Hailing Self-Driving Cars - Fortune [Last Updated On: February 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 8th, 2017]
- Women need to look out for each other in automated workplaces - The Guardian [Last Updated On: February 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 8th, 2017]
- Automation vs. the H-1B visa program: Which matters to employees? - TechTarget [Last Updated On: February 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 8th, 2017]
- Automation is the unavoidable future of the economy - The Daily Cougar [Last Updated On: February 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 8th, 2017]
- Speeders beware: Legislation would allow automation crackdown ... - SFGate [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2017]
- Robots versus bureaucrats: Why public sector work is ripe for automation - Financial Post [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2017]
- Rockwell Automation Surged 10% in January as Growth Picked Up Steam - Motley Fool [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2017]
- Global Medical Automation Market to Reach Approximately $75.6 Billion by 2025 - By End User, Application ... - PR Newswire (press release) [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2017]
- Automation 'key' to advancing Thai production - The Nation [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2017]
- WorkWave Releases New Lead Management And Marketing ... - PR Newswire (press release) [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2017]
- 'We employ insane levels of automation' Kris Canekeratne - Times of India [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2017]
- Most people are optimistic about workplace automation, social data suggests - ZDNet [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2017]
- Yes, there's a job creation argument for automation and technology ... - The Hill (blog) [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2017]
- Technobabble: Automation and the modern worker - CIO Dive [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2017]
- Improving Behavior Through Automation of Vehicle Systems - School Transportation News (blog) [Last Updated On: February 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 11th, 2017]
- Automation Nightmare: Philosopher Warns We Are Creating a World Without Consciousness - Big Think [Last Updated On: February 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 11th, 2017]
- Why Don't We See More Automation in Federal Networks? - Nextgov [Last Updated On: February 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 11th, 2017]
- Automation can revitalize the US workforce - Fox News [Last Updated On: February 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 11th, 2017]
- Readers Write (Feb. 12): The moose population; jobs, start-ups and automation; diversity in the funny pages - Minneapolis Star Tribune [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2017]
- Automation can replace bureaucrats and save taxpayers money - Hot Air [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2017]
- TigerStop hopes to ride automation to new heights - The Columbian [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2017]
- Your Most Valuable Resource is Time Get More of it through Automation - CMS Critic (press release) (blog) [Last Updated On: February 13th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 13th, 2017]
- What Does Device Automation Mean for Users? - Medical Device and Diagnostics Industry (blog) [Last Updated On: February 13th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 13th, 2017]
- How To Beat Automation And Not Lose Your Job - Forbes [Last Updated On: February 13th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 13th, 2017]
- Logistics firm gets automation boost - The Straits Times [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2017]
- PP Control & Automation launch new video to kick-start exciting plans for 2017 - Manufacturer.com [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2017]
- Automation's Impace on Data Center Monitoring Alerts - The Data Center Journal [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2017]
- Hollysys Automation Technologies Reports Unaudited Financial Results for the First Half Year and the Second Quarter ... - PR Newswire (press release) [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2017]
- 4 Automation Hacks to Save You Money and Manpower - Yahoo Finance [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2017]
- Istuary Innovation Group and Bluewrist Partner to Bring Robotics and Automation into China's Manufacturing Sector - Yahoo Finance [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2017]
- Redwood Software Named a Strong Performer in Independent Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Report - Yahoo Finance [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2017]
- Boeing ramps up automation, innovation as it readies 737MAX | The ... - The Seattle Times [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2017]
- Robots and AI are coming for our jobs, but can augmentation save us from automation? - Digital Trends [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2017]
- The Impact of Bad Data in Automation: Why Quality Management is Critical - R & D Magazine [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2017]
- Automation: Are We Empowering Human Interaction Or Displacing It? - Business 2 Community [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2017]
- Life in the Fast LaneAutomation with Software-Defined Intelligence - InfoWorld [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2017]
- Luddite Lefty Journalists Apparently Think Workplace Automation is Conservatives' Fault [VIDEO] - Daily Caller [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2017]
- Will automation define the future of network technology? - TechTarget [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2017]
- Editorial: Improving automation - The Motorship [Last Updated On: February 17th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 17th, 2017]
- TigerText Unveils Role-based Scheduling Automation, Amazon Alexa integration - HIT Consultant [Last Updated On: February 17th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 17th, 2017]
- 89% people want automation at workplace: Adobe - Economic Times [Last Updated On: February 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 18th, 2017]
- Delta veers to EV parts, automation - Bangkok Post [Last Updated On: February 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 18th, 2017]
- Robotic process automation makes nearshore outsourcing more ... - CIO [Last Updated On: February 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 18th, 2017]
- The working-class job that Trump could save from automation - Washington Post [Last Updated On: February 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 18th, 2017]
- China must be ready for automation - Basic Income News [Last Updated On: February 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 18th, 2017]
- Bill Gates Says Robots Should Be Taxed Like Workers - Fortune [Last Updated On: February 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 18th, 2017]
- Trump and automation challenge India's IT industry - VentureBeat [Last Updated On: February 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 18th, 2017]
- Both Trump and Automation Are Challenging India's IT Industry - Fortune [Last Updated On: February 20th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 20th, 2017]
- 89% people want automation at workplace: Adobe - ETCIO.com [Last Updated On: February 20th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 20th, 2017]
- The art of balancing workplace automation - Retail Customer Experience (blog) [Last Updated On: February 20th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 20th, 2017]