On February 25, 2023, Steve Barsanti, Director of Customer Operations at Rapid Robotics moderated a live panel at Rapid Robotics HQ as part of our first ever Get Real About Automation event. Steve and a pair of leading voice in manufacturing discussed how to attract manufacturing workers. The session featured:
Troy Nix, Executive Director, Manufacturers Association for Plastics Processors
Andrew Crowe, founder of the New American Manufacturing Renaissance
These subject matter experts discussed the potential of a combined human and robot workforce. Watch the session recording and continue reading for highlights.
Labor shortage will worsen without automation
By 2030, around 2.1 million factory jobs could remain unfilled. Even as older workers are retiring at an accelerating rate, manufacturers struggle to attract younger workers. Without a resolution, this labor gap will cause American manufacturing to lose more than $1 trillion annually by 2030.
“If they could hire more operators, they absolutely would, but the reality is they can't. So automation is the answer.” - Andrew Crowe
Automation attracts younger workers
Millennials and Gen Z. seek work that is tech-centric. Adding robots does more than enhance productivity. It shows younger workers that manufacturing is an opportunity to work alongside today’s most exciting tech, not the dark, dirty, dangerous work they’ve been told it is.
“Once we [free] up people … to [use their] mind instead of [their] body all the time, then we can start looking at new positions that we can do. We… can take on more orders.” - Troy Nix
Promote happy & engaged workplace
Retain younger employees through an engaging, flexible work culture. Think about how automation can help you evolve your operations and culture. Practice diversity. Stimulate their talents. Involve them in your decision-making. Go out to them, instead of waiting for them to come to you.
“If they feel like they come first .. that's what makes people come back, not the paycheck.” - Troy Nix
Start smart. Start now.
“We’d better make our company sexier than anybody else in our local workforce or we're going to lose out, simple as that.” - Andrew Crowe
Schedule a consultation with Rapid Robotics to learn how you can create your workforce of the future.