Why manufacturing robots are getting smarter
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Transcript of Why manufacturing robots are getting smarter
The use of robots inmanufacturing is booming This chart shows the steady growth of robotics shipments worldwide.
Annual robot shipments (m)
Source: IFR Statistical Department
1992 20130
50
100
150
200
Car manufacturing is the most robot-friendly industryThe automotive industry bought the most industrial robots in 2013.
Industrial robots sales by sector, 2013
Source: IFR Statistical Department
80,000
70,000
60,000
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
0
Automotive Pharmaceuticals and cosmetics
Food Rubber and plastics
Metal Electrical/electronics
And China is the most voracious market for industrial robotsChina bought the most robots in 2013, followed by Japan and the US.
40,000
35,000
30,000
25,00020,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
China Japan United States
Republic of Korea
Germany
Meanwhile, the global consuming class is growing rapidly
1950
1970
1990
2010
2025
Global consuming class (billions)
Source: McKinsey Global Institute
That growing market requires a greater variety of products, with shorter life cycles For example, car manufacturers are producing more models that don’t last as long.
Change in number models vs product life cycles, 2002-2011
-20 200 40 60 80 100 120
Change in number of models Change in product life cylce (months)
‘Mass customisation’ will help manufacturers compete in global marketsThe market for customised clothes, manufactured to each customer’s particular needs, is predicted to reach 27.2 billion, or 5% of the global clothing makers, by 2020.
Predicted global clothing market, 2020
Customised clothes
Other
Source: Custom Nation, Anthony Flynn and Emily Flynn Vencat
Both of these call for more sophisticated robotsSo-called "cobots", robots designed to collaborate with humans, allow manufacturers to combine the agility of humans with the speed and reliability of robots.
The number of people with disposable income to spend on products will increase by
1.8 billion between 2010 and 2025, thanks to growing wealth in developing economies.
What does this mean for human employment?The International Federation of Robotics believes that for
every robot deployed , 3.6 jobs are created to help build, operate and maintain them.
With 200 million robots predicted to ship in 2014,
that could mean 720 million new jobs around the world.
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1.2
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But experts can’t decide what impact robots and AI might have on jobsA recent poll of nearly 2,000 technology experts found that they are split down the middle on the issue.
1,896experts
Yes 48%
No 52%
Source: Pew Research
What impact do you think smarter robots will have on the manufacturing industry?Share your thoughts on the Future Realities LinkedIn group: http://lnkd.in/FutureRealities
Sponsored by
Source: IFR Statistical Department
Will networked, automated, artificial intelligence (AI) applications and robotic devices have displaced more jobs than they have created by 2025?
Agile AutomationWhy manufacturing robots are getting smarter and what it means for humans
Industrial robot sales, 2013
Source: McKinsey Global Institute
An infographic from