A confluence of factors has created a global phenomenon: a vast shortage of laborers to fill roles on factory floors and high demand for the skills that help manufacturers grow and innovate. Robots can replace many of the labor-intensive tasks previously done by humans, often with better efficiency. New concepts in training and maintenance are reducing the number of programmers and technicians required to support these technologies. Finally, new business models potentially open this opportunity up to manufacturers of all sizes.
Overview
Robots replacing humans in many industries has been controversial – until relatively recently. Politicians, labor leaders and workers expressed dismay that humans could be displaced by machines, and concern that unemployment would spike.
However, the biggest challenge for manufacturers of all types and sizes has been hiring and retaining workers. And without clear signs that the trend will reverse, many are pivoting to robots as the answer. New, creative ways to employ robots means they are more versatile and efficient than ever before. They are removing humans from the most tedious, taxing and dangerous of jobs.
In addition, they are requiring less support staff to keep them going. Apps, smart glasses and other means have reduced the need for programmers to write code for most process or operations changes. And with access to predictive maintenance data, repairs and technicians are needed less often.
Perhaps most notably, this is also birthed the idea of robots-as-a-service, where robots are easily available, can be scaled or swapped quickly, and the ownership risks are carried by the owner, not the operator.
Learn more in this exciting roundtable discussion.
Speakers
Edgar Sotter is a Senior Director of New Product Technology in the CSA Group. His team looks to the technology horizon for new developments and applications that could present opportunities for CSA's Test, Inspection and Certification business. Prior to joining CSA, Edgar worked as Senior Director, Product Strategies & Client Solutions at Systems with Intelligence Inc. (SWI), a manufacturer of monitoring products for the electrical sector. Edgar has 20 years of combined academic, technical and business experience. He has a PhD in electronic engineering from Universidad Rovira I Virgili (Spain), an Executive MBA from the University of Toronto (Canada) and a Bachelor's of Science in electronic engineering from Universidad del Norte (Colombia).
Aaron Prather is the director of Robotics & Autonomous Systems Program at ASTM International, where he oversees standards development, training and workforce development efforts, and R&D funding. Prior to joining ASTM, Aaron was the senior advisor for robotics R&D at FedEx, where he developed and deployed numerous systems into their global operations. Prather has written numerous articles about robotics and their role and impact on workforce development. He is on numerous boards and committees that develop curriculum for robotics training.
Dr. Craig Schlenoff is the Group Leader of the Cognition and Collaboration Systems Group, the Program Manager of the Measurement Science for Manufacturing Robotics Program, the Program Manager of the Automated Vehicle Program, the Project Leader of the Agility Performance of Robotic Systems project, and the Embodied AI and Data Generation for Manufacturing project in the Intelligent Systems Division at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). He has led multiple million-dollar efforts addressing performance evaluation of automated vehicles, industrial robotic systems, and advanced military technologies. He has published over 150 journal and conference papers, guest edited three journals, guest edited three books, and written four book chapters. He is the co-chair of the NITRD Artificial Intelligence Interagency Working Group, the Associate Vice President for Standardization in the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society, the co-chair of the IEEE Robot Task Representation Working Group, and was previously the chair of the IEEE Ontology for Robotics and Automation Working Group. He has also served as the Program Manager for the Process Engineering Program at NIST and the Director of Ontologies at VerticalNet. He also teaches two courses at the University of Maryland, College Park: “Calculus” and “Building a Manufacturing Robot Software System.” He received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland, his Master’s degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (both in mechanical engineering), and his PhD from the University of Burgundy in computer science.
Over the past 34 years, Dean Phillips has been a leader in the technology sectors and the world of smart manufacturing. His is a continuous advisor to the smart manufacturing advisory committees with Society of Manufacturing Engineers and PMA Precision Metalforming Association. Phillips has been a speaker on IoT, AI, robotics, VR and AR. He is the creator of reality safe, a VR / AR safety training solution for manufacturing, working with Purdue. Phillips has spent the majority of his time advancing IoT, maintenance and safety to be more predictive and develop outcome based solutions. He has been on the board of directors for SME and an advisor for TTU, MTSU and TCAT. He has been a contributing lecturer on big data and it’s value and need for artificial intelligence to filter the information into actionable items. Phillips provides safety and development to cobot users and assists universities to outline expectations from manufacturers.
Andra Keay is recognized as a global thought leader and ecosystem builder in the emerging sectors of robotics. She is managing director of Silicon Valley Robotics, an industry group supporting innovation and commercialization of robotics technologies. The Silicon Valley area is home to the world’s largest robotics and AI cluster, with over 600 robotics companies, and more than 50 robotics/AI research labs.
Andra is an experienced futurist. She is also the founder of Robot Launch, global robotics startup competition, cofounder of Robot Garden makerspace, mentor at hardware accelerators, startup advisor and investor, dedicated to growing equitable and ethical Autonomous Intelligent Systems (AIS). She is currently a Visiting Scholar with the UC’s CITRIS People and Robots Research Group. Andra is also the VP of IEEE Robotics and Automation Society Industrial Activities Board and the Deep Tech Lead for IEEE Entrepreneurship. She is involved in global standards development for inclusive and ethical A/IS, autonomous and intelligent systems.
Andra has keynoted at major international conferences, typically speaking about good robot design, building successful deep tech clusters and robotics industry and investment trends. She has an MS from the University of Sydney in human-robot culture.
Leanne Bihn has held various sales and marketing roles at Rockwell Automation for 18 years. This experience spans serving and consulting with customers in several industries, including dairy, baking, metals production, water wastewater and chemical applications to name a few. Applications have spanned automating small scale applications to large process automation designs. She has also served in market access leadership, driving strategy and execution through partner development. Currently she is the North America Industry Director for Warehousing, E-Commerce and Logistics, responsible for strategy, market development and sales in North America. Major areas of focus in this industry are around supply chain efficiencies, robotics, and addressing workforce challenges.