Manufacturing Automation Competitiveness: 906 Executives Agree That Today’s Competitive Edge Is Improved with Manufacturing Automation

A Bain survey found that successful organizations are focusing on their manufacturing automation competitiveness to reduce costs and increase growth.

Companies that invest more in manufacturing automation competitiveness reduce costs by more than 2x as much as companies that invest less. 

That’s true across industries. Here are just two examples:

• CPG giant Procter & Gamble uses automation to track and model their inventory levels, saving $60 million/year.
• Retailers like Sam’s Club used robotics to take over low-value tasks like counting stock, reducing costs by 22%.

How exactly does that work? And what do the benefits of automation mean for your plant’s competitiveness? 

We asked automation expert Tom Pawlowicz, who has spent decades as a project manager and engineer, working across every aspect of material handling, how today’s plants and factories can stay competitive through automation. 

1) Helps you produce more jobs per hour

2) Reduces the time it takes to fulfill orders

3) Solves for your labor gap

1) Helps you produce more jobs per hour

“Plant managers are focused on two things: productivity and uptime,” says Tom. “Automation helps with both.” 

For instance, an ISD automotive manufacturing client found that they could go from three 8-hour shifts a day to two 10-hour shifts (a 4 hours/day savings in labor costs, multiplied by each plant worker) because automation helped them run a more efficient, more productive, leaner operation. 

Those two shifts exceeded jobs per hour goals, and afterwards, their automated shipping system sent out completed products. “You run a leaner operation with automation,” says Tom.

2) Manufacturing Automation Competitiveness Helps Reduce the Time It Takes To Fulfill Orders

Perhaps your goal isn’t necessarily to make more products. But what about making them faster?

“If you’re a Tier One supplier, in the arena of supporting another party, automation can help you reduce the amount of time you need to meet orders so that you don’t have to work around the clock,” says Tom. 

(If you’re not sure how to determine what goal is most important to you, check out these examples.)

3) Solves For Your Labor Gap

Whether you’re managing a team of 10 or 100, you’ve surely seen how difficult it is to find, train, and retain talent.

You’re not alone. In a study of labor availability, researchers found that by 2030, there will be a global talent shortage of 85 million people. 

“A labor shortage has already accelerated automation and increased use of robotics—not to replace people, but because there aren’t enough of them to fill the factories,” says the report.

Automation, including automatic storage and retrieval systems, conveyor systems, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), and automated guided vehicles (AGVs), can solve your labor shortage. 

“It can be difficult to get a workforce to come in and stay productive, especially with temp workers,” says Tom. “Automation helps cover the gap. You won’t have to worry about hiring any more.”

The jobs that remain will be safer, more meaningful, and more enjoyable, allowing you to build long-lasting relationships with your team. 

Manufacturing Automation Competitiveness Translates to Business growth With Less Stress

You face difficult problems every day. Automation can take a few of them off your list.

ISD works with manufacturing operations of all sizes to strategically solve problems and manufacturing automation competitiveness through observation, analysis, and curiosity. 

If you’re thinking about automation, we’d love to hear what’s on your mind. 

We’ll tell you honestly whether automating makes sense for where you are and where you’d like to go. 

And if manufacturing automation competitiveness can be a part of your success, we’re here to help you make it a reality, every step of the way. From consulting projects to installation and maintenance, we can help you deliver today’s needs and build flexibility to grow for tomorrow’s wants. 

Set up a free consultation with an automation expert.