So, we have been in the automation age for quite some time now. Most businesses require its use to be successful. The purpose of it has changed, however, from increasing productivity and reducing costs, to increasing quality and flexibility in their process. Take example the car industry. When you have employees install an engine part, say a crank case, you have an error range from 1-1.2%, but if you have the process automated, you now have an error rate of .0001%.
WHen it comes to a new type of flexibility in the automation process, it gets a little tricky. When a company wants to say switch products on their assembly line, it usually requires almost completely tearing down and rebuilding the production lines. Automated guided vehicles have helped tremendously with this issue.
When it comes to being a business owner, and you are making a product over and over again, the obvious choice is automation. Sometimes you have to ask yourself the question of morality though: If you have a bunch of robots working for you, where do the people that once did that machine's job go? The unemployment issue goes hand-in-hand with automation. If robots were as smart as humans, would employers not care about humans anymore? You can read more about this subject at how stuff works. I am anxious to see what happens in the near future with this.
I feel that automation will soon takeover our many factory type business. Without the people staying on there job and taking care of business eventually we will be replaced by a machine, which is terrible.
ReplyDeleteI totally understand automation, but I think its crazy how someone's job can just be eliminated. If I had been working somewhere for years and my boss just came and fired me I would be pissed. I think that if the company lets the worker know in advance and gives the worker the option to learn how to operate the machine or software then everything would be fair. So many people's lives have been significantly changed due to automation but it is a great thing.
ReplyDeleteFrom the business side of things, I can see why humans are being replaced by automation. With the extremely rising cost of medical insurance and benefits, a robot is the cheaper route.
ReplyDeleteI understand why those with lower skill jobs would be worried about automation. Only the lower skill jobs are really being replaced. The amount of jobs for a high skilled worked force will incress as automation increases. Jobs will always be there you just have to be able to put the work in to get it
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