Will Technology Fill the Gaps Left by a Shortage of Skilled Manufacturers? The reply is sure.
People crave careers that challenge them beyond the mundane tasks outlined in a manual. Repetitive, physically demanding workloads exert a significant toll on both the body and mind, leaving individuals feeling drained and unfulfilled. In U.S. financial statistics, a striking gap emerges between available job options and workers’ reluctance to embrace physically demanding labor-intensive occupations, underscoring a significant mismatch between employment opportunities and workforce preferences.
The labor shortage plaguing the manufacturing sector is starkly evident, with insufficient staff to meet the demand. Those assigned to manual tasks, such as palletizing, often desire to remain in these positions for a temporary period. As a result, operations managers must consistently rotate or introduce personnel to address each bottleneck, thereby perpetuating an endless onboarding cycle. There’s an actual cost associated with hiring staff. In alignment with industry trends, hiring costs can prove pivotal:
- The typical cost for renting a property varies depending on location and amenities, but the average rental price in this area is approximately $1,633 per month.
- It typically takes around 39 days for a team to complete a task.
- Companies are typically charged between $650 and $1,100 annually for coaching services.
- On average, it takes a newly hired employee around 12 days to reach their full productivity capacity.
In the face of mounting hiring difficulties and escalating costs, a pressing imperative arises to tackle specific labour deficits head-on. The blog post delves into the complexities surrounding labour shortages, with a specific focus on palletizing processes. What misconceptions about palletizing and automation prevail in today’s industry? This thought-provoking blog delves into the consequences of handbook labor, the drawbacks of individual palletization, and explores viable solutions to address the looming manufacturing labor shortage, all while casting a discerning eye on the future implications.
The manufacturing landscape is poised for vital shifts, as noted by Anders Beck, Vice President of Technique and Innovation at Common Robotics. As the market demand for seamless solutions surges, the need for intuitive automation capabilities becomes increasingly essential, catering to the growing requirements of smaller businesses seeking streamlined processes.
Companies are under pressure to identify low-risk automation opportunities that deliver swift cost savings. Options are expected to integrate harmoniously into current processes without interrupting upstream and downstream activities. There’s a growing trend toward adopting lightweight collaborative robots, also known as cobots. These collaborative robots continually enhance their payload capacity and performance, providing flexible and scalable solutions.
As the shrinking labor pool and manufacturing labor scarcity intensify, corporations are being forced to reevaluate their reliance on automation technologies. Automated options have significantly enhanced their capabilities over the past few years. Collaborative robots have democratized access to robotic palletizers, making them feasible for companies across a broad spectrum of expertise levels. Companies rarely possess the technical expertise within their own organization to effectively operate these sophisticated palletizing systems.
Effective supply chain management and timely delivery of products to customers are crucial aspects of successful manufacturing operations. Palletizing has a profound impact on the effectiveness of the supply chain, boosting overall profitability by optimizing the flow of goods throughout the value stream. Prior to entering the cargo and warehousing process, packing a pallet at the ultimate contact level is crucial.
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Palletizing is the process of carefully arranging and stacking various types of merchandise, including primary and secondary packaging, onto sturdy wooden or plastic pallets to facilitate efficient storage and transportation. Palleted goods are consolidated onto a single platform, transforming it into a comprehensive unit for handling, transportation, storage, and distribution purposes. The prospect of palletizing becoming a redundant task once robots matched human proficiency seemed uncertain at best. As we discuss, turnkey palletizing solutions offer flexible hardware and intuitive software, empowering more manufacturers to invest in palletizing automation. |
Despite advancements in robotic palletizing technology, numerous enduring myths still prevail? That’s understandable – progress has accelerated significantly over the past few years. Notwithstanding the misconceptions that often surround industrial robotics, Robotiq encounters several myths that warrant dispelling.
| Companies that have opted to automate their palletizing process have already taken this step. | Numerous small and medium-sized enterprises have historically evaluated their options carefully before deciding against making an investment. Several common reasons include:
Fortunately, there exist solutions within the market today that can address these limitations. These straightforward options offer economic value, simplicity, and the ability to integrate seamlessly without necessitating significant restructuring. |
| Automated options are limited in number. |
The market is saturated with numerous robotic systems, software platforms, and integration companies. Despite the proliferation of product options, they remain scattered and disjointed. Options must be cohesive, requiring each enterprise to seek out and assemble a comprehensive answer. Fortunately, turnkey options also exist, offering a harmonious balance between standardization and adaptability. Designed to meet specific requirements, these customizable solutions can be tailored to suit the unique needs of each organization, enhancing operational efficiency and streamlining processes. |
| Robotic palletizers necessitate highly specialized expertise to configure and operate efficiently. |
Companies that incorporated robots a decade ago are likely to be amazed by the rapid advancements in software technology. Turnkey options characteristic pre-programmed, user-friendly software programs that can be quickly mastered within hours. |
| While automated palletizing systems may hold promise for large-scale operations, their feasibility remains largely dependent on the specific needs and resources of individual companies, making them not exclusively limited to giant enterprises seeking a return on investment. |
Small to medium-sized businesses can achieve their return on investment goals by pairing their operations with a tailored palletizing solution that aligns with their unique needs. Deciding on a turnkey resolution can significantly accelerate the ROI timeline, thereby allowing for earlier realization of returns. Turnkey options offer a cost-effective solution for stacking pallets within a single shift. The following present a couple of ROI examples, alongside which we will illustrate the concept’s practical application. |
| A palletizing robot necessitates a substantial footprint and considerable overhead clearance. |
Collaborative robotic systems typically occupy significantly less floor space compared to traditional robotic solutions. Traditional industrial robotic palletizers are typically large and necessitate secure perimeters to ensure operator safety and prevent accidental interference with the machinery. The need to reconfigure the manufacturing unit’s floor space or establish a dedicated centralised palletising area arises. |
| The palletizing robotic system always necessitates a secure, perimeter-enclosed area for optimal functionality. |
Many palletizers do not require working within a barrier. Collaborative robots are engineered to emphasize security, and are intended to operate harmoniously with humans. Equipped with advanced pressure sensors, these robots are capable of braking swiftly to avoid collisions altogether. While a security assessment is necessary for every setup, there are scenarios where the cobot palletizer will likely operate in close proximity to people. |
Individuals generally prefer to avoid stacking containers onto pallets. What drives our reliance on this outdated approach to learning? The boat capsized due to two primary reasons:
- Human staff demonstrate an exceptional ability to adapt to varying case weights, dimensions, cycle times, and unique production parameters.
- Individuals possess adaptable problem-solving skills, capable of refining their approach in real-time.
Notwithstanding, there are several drawbacks to relying on employees to palletize products.
Global delivery costs and components such as route conflicts in shipping networks are likely to sustain these challenges. To offset higher costs, manufacturers are increasing the quantity of goods per pallet. The goal is to maximize the usage of a vertical space within a residential home.
While producers may optimize the height of pallets to increase efficiency, this practice often accompanies a heightened risk of injury to personnel. As container volumes surge and peaks increase, manual stacking becomes increasingly challenging, especially when attempting to insert containers above each other.
Loading containers onto a pallet typically involves a repetitive and routine procedure. Containers could be heavy, . When selecting containers from a production line, packers are required to move products both beneath and above their waistline, thereby increasing the risk of repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) and other safety hazards.
As manufacturers identify bottlenecks in their production processes, they may reassign employees along the value stream to optimize efficiency. Assigning employees to entirely new roles can have a profound impact on their job satisfaction and overall well-being. While an inexperienced person may enter the scene when a well-educated one transitions into a new area or context? The individual must learn numerous pallet arrangements at an accelerated pace. Manufacturers typically manage thousands of stock-keeping units (SKUs), which can pose significant logistical and inventory management challenges. Inexperienced palletizers working with complex products are at a heightened risk of committing construction errors and compromising safety.
The pursuit of exceptional standards is a fundamental imperative across all professions. Despite these industries’ best efforts, the consequences of mistakes can have far-reaching and devastating impacts in pharmaceutical, food manufacturing, or beverage distribution sectors. For large corporations managing numerous stock-keeping units (SKUs) and complex pallet configurations, dedicated training and executive supervision are essential to prevent mistakes. It’s a tedious task for experienced operations managers and production line supervisors to allocate their valuable time for such administrative tasks.
As employees grow increasingly desensitized to the impact of automation on their roles. To supplement their daily tasks, they expect automation to take over certain responsibilities. Require substantial investments in automation technology to adequately support their workload and streamline operational processes. By deploying a suitable automated solution, companies can amplify the value-addition capabilities of their human workforce.
- The versatile software programme should empower rapid reconfiguration and seamless deployment of novel applications. Robotiq’s intuitive design leverages assistant instruments, allowing for seamless transitions between setups. Palletizing products in a straightforward and efficient manner becomes possible with turnkey options. Moreover, our system mechanistically optimizes trajectories for the cobot, thereby reducing cycle times and simplifying the operator’s workflow.
Can automation effectively mitigate the industry’s persistent shortages of skilled palletizers? At Robotiq, we envision automating a significant proportion of tasks – particularly those carrying a risk of harm – as the most straightforward solution to address this issue. Automation offers a transformative opportunity for businesses of all sizes to streamline processes, minimize costs, and enhance employee satisfaction.
The stark statistics on labor shortages and employee retention costs suggest that individuals are increasingly unwilling to engage with unfulfilling, low-skilled employment opportunities? Small- to medium-sized producers can leverage turnkey options to streamline their palletizing processes with automation. By integrating a collaborative robot (cobot) palletizer at the end of their production line, manufacturers unlock the potential to boost employee empowerment, enhance productivity, and cultivate adaptability.
Are you prepared to be fully replaced by artificial intelligence in just a few short months? Robotiq offers a diverse range of palletizing solutions, ensuring there’s always an option to suit your specific needs.
Schedule a consultation with an automation expert to discuss requirements, assess viability, and forecast returns on investment?
