Intelligent CIO Europe Issue 11 | Page 91

INDUSTRY WATCH RESEARCHERS AT MIT FOUND THAT HUMAN- ROBOT TEAMS WORKING FOR BMW WERE APPROXIMATELY 85% MORE PRODUCTIVE THAN EITHER HUMANS OR ROBOTS WORKING ALONE. T he role of physical robots is well recorded in the manufacturing industry, although not necessarily in the humanoid forms that frequent our television screens. The recent ‘Made Smarter’ review of British manufacturing argues that digital technologies such as automation could give the sector a significant boost and create thousands of new jobs. The speed of these developments is reflected by the emergence of a second generation of robots, capable of much more than the rigid, single-arm machines often associated with the so-called ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’. Smaller, nimbler robots are symbolic of the agility now required of even the longest established manufacturers. They are gaining popularity in businesses of all sizes due to their versatility and ability to generate real-time data. It is easy for manufacturers to become pre- occupied with the potential savings they can bring, costing around US$30,000 compared to US$100,000 for a typical rigid unit. However, simple investment is not enough. Manufacturers should consider a range of strategic factors to successfully induct robots into the business, including everything from data capture to workflow design. www.intelligentcio.com people’s skills and strengths to increase workplace efficiency. They are already being deployed across manufacturing organisations, from inserting shock absorbers or cutting meat on a traditional assembly line, to drones acting as the eyes of security officers patrolling a vast container yard. In doing so, the new breed of autonomous co-workers is freeing up humans to take on higher value work. Researchers at MIT found that human- robot teams working for BMW were approximately 85% more productive than either humans or robots working alone. This can take the form of accelerated time to market for new products, increased sales through increased capacity and line flexibility, or time saved due to shorter product configuration processes. Just as robots can free up employees to focus on strategy, robots can also be taught new skills. For example, people are now able to use robotic arms to teach other robots how to pick and pack products, enabling them to go far beyond the task they were initially programmed to do. This helps to eliminate rote tasks for humans and gives manufacturers more for their money. Bigger is not always better Fitting robots into the data puzzle When integrated correctly, these smaller mobile units can amplify Due to the ability of more nimble units to move throughout the factory floor, INTELLIGENTCIO 91