Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
ln815271@dal.ca
B00781782
Tutorial T02
TA: Michelle Lee
the fourth industrial revolution (Schwab, 2017); A bizarre claim that is equally simplistic as it
is inaccurate. For the longest time, computers had been in an evolving yet symbiotic
relationship with society. They provide the necessary computing power for people to carry
out tasks at higher speed and accuracy, while humans develop technologies to further push
the boundary of performance (Robotics, 2018). Automation in the manufacturing sector, for
one, is a prime example on the physical manifestation of the computing power. Automation
without a doubt, had sparked many controversies and questions. Among the issues raised, one
that is particularly divisive goes as the following; In this era of rapid automation in the
according to research by BBC, approximately 800 million jobs could be replaced by robots
by 2030, and in the US alone, 39 to 73 million jobs may be eliminated by 2030 (BBC, 2017).
The future of the workplace is seemingly changing as the percentage of automation in the
industry increases, further reinforcing the need to fully assess the impacts of automation on
the workers as it becomes an integral part of the US manufacturing sector (Nof, 2018). After
thorough and informed research, the displacement of blue-collar jobs through automation of
the US manufacturing sector will result in a net increase in the number of safe and rewarding
employment. This essay will explore the benefits of a manufacturing landscape co-habited by
robots and workers to maximize productivity, new employment opportunities and prospects
generated for the workers as indicated by the personal computer revolution in the 1980s, and
First of all, the many benefits of a manufacturing landscape consisting of both robots and
workers will significantly increase the quality of work available in the manufacturing sector.
Traditionally, jobs found in the manufacturing industry were physically strenuous, lack
security, and low skill (Gold, 2016). Introducing automation into the picture correctly, and a
collaborative mentality can bring about immense benefits for all parties involved (Nof, 2018).
The benefits include a significant increase in job productivity, a decrease in production costs,
manufacturing accounted for $2.17 trillion in global economic activity, and more than 98% of
significant because small businesses find it increasingly harder to attain labor force at a price
that will make ends meet thus robotic intervention with human supervision drastically
improves productivity and save on overall costs (Robotics, 2018). Tedious and dangerous
manual labor would be scrapped and make way for safer and more supervision oriented
working environment for blue-collar workers (Vavra, 2017). Instead of their primary focus on
building through the supply chain, the workers can instead take on a more proactive role such
more quality inspections to decrease the margin of error (Vavra, 2017). The benefits brought
about through automation of the manufacturing sector will see an increase in demands for
goods and services, and thus increasing demand for new forms of labor (Gold, 2016).
Through the lens of history, automation in the manufacturing sector boasts significant
numbers in opportunities and prospects for current and future generation of workers. To
provide context, the widely considered Third Industrial Revolution near the end of the
eighteenth century brought about the era of computing revelations that transitioned our
society to the ongoing Fourth Industrial Revolution where the connectivity between the
that major automotive companies in the US with many manufacturing branches like GM and
Ford relies heavily on automation to produce their cars (Winters, 2018). According to a report
published by McKinsey Institute, after carefully looking into the next five years of 2000
distinct job activities over 800 occupations, it was found that 45% of those work activities
could be automated (Gold, 2016). On first look, it may seem as though automation is
inducing a dent into workers’ welfare, but inferring upon history, that might not be the case.
According to the 20th CEO Survey conducted by PwC, a global accounting and consulting
firm, of the 1379 companies interviewed in 79 countries, 52% of the CEOs are already
exploring the benefits of humans and machines working together as an initiative to combat
job scarcity as a potential side effect to the age of digitization (Mint, 2017). Additionally,
78% of the CEOs are actively taking steps toward expanding their talent pool and altering
their people strategy to reflect the skills and employment structure of the future (Mint, 2017).
To put it plainly, “as MIT economics professor David Autor observes, this is part of the
evolution and improvement to working conditions (Gold, 2016).” Autor also pointed out that
while robots can execute tasks with impeccable accuracies and significant efficiencies, there
is plenty of capacity for humans to complement their workplace “colleagues” with non-
unsuspecting problems (Gold, 2016). For example, a simple yet often overlooked
complementary relationship between robots and humans is the smartphone. There were
countless times where the user has depended on the phone for navigation only to adjust for
real-time navigation errors through common sense correctly. Thus, automation in the
opportunities and prospects. The transition should be embraced with proper caution and
guidance to lead current and future generations of workers into the next era of manufacturing
(Roser, 2017).
In the big picture, automation of the US manufacturing industry so far had proven to be part
2017). According to the International Federation of Robotics, the United States currently rank
7th in terms of robot density with approximately 64 robots per 10,000 workers (Winters,
2018). Combined with suitable policies, the strategy of relentless automation while balancing
robots per workforce capita eases the burden of transitioning on current workers while
reaping the economic benefits of superior productivity and efficiency. A study from the
Centre of Economic Studies between 1993 and 2007 saw a direct link with 0.37% GDP
growth and a 0.36% increase in labor productivity (Robotics, 2018). Thus, it proves the
strong correlation between automation and a strong economic outlook. The Reshoring
Initiative also helped the US reclaim more than 250,000 jobs through the attraction of
robotics and automation (Robotics, 2018). The cheaper costs also meant that companies
would less likely relocate their manufacturing plants or set up offshore contracts due to the
highly efficient, low cost of manufacturing through robotics and automation (Robotics,
2018). Speaking from a supply-chain standpoint, the long-term gain in efficiency and
productivity will allow for a supply miracle, drive the costs down, boost demand, and
virtually eliminate the costs of trade which will open new markets and drive economic
BBC News. (2017). ‘Robots to 'take 800 million jobs by 2030'. [online] Available at:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42170100 [Accessed 6 Feb. 2019].
Gold, S. (2016). The Future of Automation-and Your Job. Industry Week, p. Industry Week,
Jan 18, 2016.
Hemphill, T., & Perry, M. (n.d.). A U.S. Manufacturing Strategy for the 21st Century: What
Policies Yield National Sector Competitiveness? Business Economics, 47(2), 126-147.
Nof, S., & Silva, Y. (2018). Perspectives on Manufacturing Automation Under the Digital
and Cyber Convergence. Polytechnica, 1(1), 36-47.
Pitt, D. (2017). WTF? What's the Future and Why It's Up to Us. The Booklist, 114(1), 22.
Robotics, M. (2018, March 21). Robots, Jobs, and Productivity: The Future of the
Workplace. Retrieved from https://medium.com/mistyrobotics/robots-jobs-and-productivity-
the-future-of-the-workplace-3c4bf2b8831f
Roser, C. (2017). "Faster, better, cheaper" in the history of manufacturing: From the Stone
Age to lean manufacturing and beyond (First ed.). Boca Raton: CRC Press, Taylor & Francis
Group.
Rotman, D. (2017, Mar). The relentless pace of automation. MIT Technology Review, 120,
92-95. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.library.dal.ca/login?url=https://search-proquest-
com.ezproxy.library.dal.ca/docview/1881119416?accountid=10406
Schwab, K. (2017). The Fourth Industrial Revolution: Its meaning and how to respond.
Logistics and Transport Focus, 19(2), 40
Vavra, C. (2017). Four benefits of manufacturing automation. Control Engineering, 64(4), 24.
52% CEOs exploring benefits of humans and machines working together: Report. (2017).
Mint, p. Mint, Mar 1, 2017.