On February 25, 2023, Kim Losey, CMO of Rapid Robotics, hosted a live panel at Rapid Robotics HQ as part of our first ever Get Real About Automation event. A panel of industry leaders discussed the state of today's automation. The session featured:
Nikki Gonzales, Head of Partnerships at Quotebeam & Host of the Automation Ladies podcast
Alex Shikany, Vice President, Membership & Business Intelligence at the Association for Advancing Automation (A3)
Jeff Puma, Content Director for the Manufacturing Leadership Council
These subject matter experts addressed the US manufacturing labor shortage and why modern automation methods are uniquely suited to solving them. Watch the session recording and continue reading for highlights.
Manufacturers can't fill their manufacturing jobs
Despite a recent surge of consumer demand for US-produced goods, manufacturers are falling behind due to a workforce deficit of more than 800,000 open positions.
“The labor crisis is getting so bad and getting worse, which is what makes [automation] so important today.” - Jordan Kretchmer, CEO of Rapid Robotics.
Cobots relieve skilled operators from repetitive, boring tasks.
It’s a myth that machines displace workers. Rather, workers migrate to higher-level jobs, while robots perform perfunctory tasks, enabling companies to accept additional capacity projects that most manufacturers have to refuse because they’re at capacity.
“Robots aren't the enemy…They're tools. They're 21st century tools.” - Nikki Gonzales
Give workers high-level tasks
Incentivize workers with higher-level, exciting and better-paying work. You’ll attract employees who improve your reputation, helping you attract, recruit and retain the best workforce. No more missed opportunities!
“[Workers] are going to stick around more. They're going to tell people in their community that it's a better job … [Automation] is really a growth enabler, rather than a replacement for labor cost.” - Nikki Gonzales
Start smart. Start now.
A3 statistics show that demand for US-produced robots dramatically ticked up recently with consumers ordering 44,000 robots alone last year.
Schedule a consultation with Rapid Robotics to learn how you can speed robotic deployment.