News and Events

As we delve further into Industry 4.0, the presence of robotics and automation is steadily increasing in various manufacturing processes. It’s not uncommon to see both industrial robots and collaborative robots present on the manufacturing floor. 

It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that robots are essential to manufacturing projects of all scopes and sizes at this point, and their presence will only continue to grow as we move into the future of the industry. 

But what exactly is it that these robots are doing that makes them so important?

The Benefits of Robots

There are several key areas where robots are beneficial to manufacturing, the most prominent are the ways in which they boost efficiency. 

Robots never sleep, especially not large industrial robots, so they can be productive on a 24/7 basis except when shut down for maintenance. That means they’re constantly able to work and produce output without any need for breaks. 

Smaller collaborative robots, or cobots, are adaptable and easy to repurpose to fit new tasks. Their tools are usually interchangeable and they’re easy to program and control. That means they can serve as automated workers in a variety of places on the manufacturing floor. 

In terms of safety, robots are able to handle materials and work in conditions that people simply aren’t suited for. As such, they perform the most dangerous tasks and keep the workers out of danger. 

The Robots’ Tasks

Robots are able to handle a variety of tasks in the manufacturing process, but those tasks can be pretty well summed up in 5 categories. 

1. Material Handling - As mentioned above, robots are capable of handling materials that are dangerous to humans. When a product requires unwavering steadiness and presents a risk of danger or contamination if mishandled, robots are the perfect choice for the job. They never grow tired or make mistakes and they don’t have to worry about contamination or harm. Robots are great at handling everything from heavy crates to samples of blood with great efficiency. 
2. Welding - Welding is a task that requires precision and exposes the worker to dangerous conditions because of the involvement of extreme heat and pressure in the process. This makes it a perfect job for robots, and they are increasingly being used in the place of workers for welding tasks. 
3. Assembly - Assembling products can be a repetitive and boring job that leads to moments of inattention and lapses of judgment. That’s why it’s a perfect way to use a robot. Robots don’t get bored, they thrive in repetitive tasks, and they never stop paying attention. They’re the perfect assembly workers!
4. Dispensing - Another repetitive task that can be handled by robots is the dispensing of glue, paint, or sprays to a surface as part of a production line. Robots can be placed at various strategic points along the product’s path of assembly to dispense materials as it passes by. 
5. Processing - Depending on the complexity of the processing task, robots can be used for certain types of processing that occur on various production lines, such as carving, polishing, or sawing. 

Workers Are Essential to Robots

While it may seem like robots are replacing workers in manufacturing, the reality is quite the opposite. Robots can’t operate without people to program them, maintain them, design them, troubleshoot them, etc. If anything, the use of robots in the industry is creating a greater demand for skilled workers than ever before. 

That’s where the ARM Institute and RoboticsCareer.org come in. We’ve provided a convenient way for those who are interested in pursuing a career in robotics with thousands of educational programs and organizations around the country. Skilled robotics workers are in demand, and whether you’re looking to become a robotics technician, a robotics specialist, or a robotics integrator, it’s our mission to help you get started on your path. 

Begin your search today and discover an exciting future in robotics!