Podcast: How Automation Can Work for Small and Mid-Sized Manufacturers
Automation doesn't have to be a touchy subject among small and mid-size companies that feel it isn't designed for their operations. Advances in automation have made it so that any company, of any size, can realize its benefits. Join Laura Davis, editor-in-chief of New Equipment Digest as she discusses five reasons that make it hard for small and mid-sized companies to turn away from automation.
Below is an excerpt from the podcast:
Number 1. Automation mitigates labor issues
We all know that there’s a labor shortage. Finding and paying qualified employees is challenging at best. For smaller jobs, this results in lead times expanding as they simply can’t keep up. Or, to do so, they need to find (and pay) people to work overtime. When you bring in automation, that issue diminishes, as specially trained and highly skilled workers can be deployed to other critical non-automation roles robots cannot handle. When companies do start to automate, they usually see increases in efficiency and process stability almost immediately. Lead times can easily go from six to two weeks, and workers are freed up to be more innovative and strategic in their operations. The result is more workflow, new growth opportunities, better utilization of capital assets, and happier customers.