Solving Labour Shortages of Skilled Workers Through Automation

March 31st, 2023

by Bogdan Tintescu, Marketing Assistant, Scape Technologies

Introduction

The labour crisis in physically demanding jobs has been a long-standing concern for decades, but over the past three years, this issue has reached a critical level. Many companies in manufacturing, warehousing, welding, and other industries are struggling to find enough workers to keep up with demand. Robotics solutions can play a significant role in addressing this issue.

The Current State of Labour Shortages

According to the 2023 MHI Annual Industry Report, “The Responsible Supply Chain: Transparency, Sustainability, and the Case for Business” published by MHI and Deloitte, talent remains a major challenge for companies today. The shortage of qualified workers is particularly problematic when it comes to hiring and retaining employees, as reported by 56% of the respondents. In fact, a Deloitte global survey revealed that only 25% of respondents are highly confident in their workforce's composition and skills for the future. One of the survey's main findings suggests that companies that fail to prioritize technology and lack sufficient tech talent within their operations will fall behind their competitors. Therefore, due to a lack of skilled workers, technological solutions that are user-friendly and easy to operate are increasingly demanded in manufacturing, welding, and other industries where automation is possible. 

Tackling Labour Shortage with Scape Technologies

This is where we step in. At Scape, our main purpose is to solve the challenge of labour shortage in production environments worldwide at low costs. With a dedicated and innovative mindset, we have developed and implemented over 100 standardized SCAPE Bin-Picking solutions since 2011, which are in full production at several customers all over Europe. Our success lies in our ability to provide turnkey automation solutions that integrate standard hardware and software components to complete a SCAPE Bin-Picker.

A Compelling Calculation 

We ensure 99.99% reliability, which means that with 8500 parts picked per day in a 24/7 production, only 1 operator action is required every 24 hours. At the other end of the spectrum, the solutions that are currently available on the market provide a 98% reliability rate. It might not seem like a big difference, but with the same number of parts picked in a 24/7 production, there are 170 operator actions needed every 24 hours.

Conclusion

Labour shortages in physically demanding jobs are a significant challenge for many industries. However, by embracing automation through our Scape Bin-Picking solutions, companies can help bridge the gap and boost efficiency in their production lines. As technology continues to evolve, the role of automation in the workforce is only going to become more important.