When it comes to robotics and automation the UK’s progress has not been fast enough, according to a report published in September 2019 by the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee. The problem with our workplaces, it seems, is not too many robots, but too few and they warn that if UK businesses don’t step up their efforts in the adoption of automation and robotics, we risk being left behind as we move into Industry 4.0.
So, what are the benefits and barriers for businesses when it comes to adopting emerging technology? How can companies navigate through the complex challenges and uncertainty for their workforces when it comes to introducing greater automation? And what will wider adoption of automation mean for the skillsets required by engineers?
In order to expand the adoption of robotics, automation and artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace a full-picture approach needs to be taken. Alongside the development of the technology itself, attention must be paid to the human factors – addressing how robotics can be used effectively alongside their human counterparts by considering attitudes, behaviours and concerns.
Failure to adopt emerging technologies poses a risk to the UK economy
According to the BEIS report, the UK is lagging behind other G7 countries in its adoption of robotics – with just 10 robots for every million hours worked in the UK in 2015 compared to 167 in Japan. This lack of adoption and understanding is harming business productivity – which, the report says, the future of the UK labour market and economy is dependent on. If the government and businesses continue in their reluctance to lead the way in the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’, we risk being left behind while other countries take advantage of this emerging technology – along with the growth and jobs it can bring.
A transition to a more automated UK workplace could make businesses more productive – increasing the supply of high quality jobs and promoting better work-life balance. However, managed badly, the transition could cause heightened stress and uncertainty for workers, while the UK is left harbouring unproductive and therefore uncompetitive businesses – playing catch-up with its G7 counterparts.
Reduced costs, greater productivity and higher quality output: the benefits of embracing automation
There are enormous financial incentives for businesses to increasingly automate their processes1, along with improved productivity and greater opportunities to innovate. Applied well, the technology can offer additional capabilities – improving quality, reducing the time elapsed to complete tasks and therefore reducing costs.2
AI and robotics can be used to:
- Automate simple, repetitive tasks.
- Carry out time-consuming inspection activities in industries including construction and aerospace.
- Can be applied to data analysis – such as finding patterns or making more accurate complex decisions using predictive algorithms
- Could improve work-life balance for employees by offering enhanced flexibility.
Last year, a prototype robot that uses suction to scale and inspect the outside of aircraft was trialled successfully at Cranfield using the University’s Boeing 737. Carried out manually, the structural inspection of aircraft components is not only time-consuming and costly (usually representing 20% of operating costs) – it is also subject to human error. By developing a methodology to automate part of the maintenance procedure, the CompInnova project aims to improve the efficiency and efficacy of aircraft inspection and repair.
Research is also being carried out at Cranfield to develop an AI-enabled safety board monitoring system for use in the construction industry. The Learning Camera project is applying a range of Industry 4.0 technologies, including the Internet of Things and Semantic Web, to develop a self-learning technology that can analyse and monitor scenarios on construction sites, alerting staff when safety equipment is used or missing. Applying AI technology to carry out an essential health and safety-related task would mean that the burden would be reduced on staff and therefore they could spend more time on tasks directly impacting the build – meaning productivity is increased, while a high safety standard is maintained.
Technology is also being developed that allows for far more collaborative, space-sharing work to be carried out with humans and robots working together. The Intelligent Automation Laboratory, part of the Aerospace Integration Research Centre (AIRC) at Cranfield, is home to a Fanuc CR-35iA collaborative robot. Designed to collaborate with workers on heavy, repetitive lifting jobs in industry – reducing the risk of injuries and improving productivity - the robot also has in-built anti-trap protection, meaning it can be used in a shared workspace without the need for a fence.
Outside of engineering and manufacturing-related industries, in professions that we may typically view as being under threat due to automation, benefits and opportunities can still be identified. For example, an evidence review study on the impact of emerging technologies in the workplace, carried out by Professor Emma Parry and Dr Valentina Battista of Cranfield School of Management, suggests that – in the field of Human Resources (HR) – the use of emerging technology decreases time spent on administrative tasks, allowing HR practitioners to take on a more strategically-oriented role within their organisation.
The potential benefits of the increased use of automation and robotics in the UK workplace seem clear. But with these benefits, come challenges. With advances in automation changing the types of jobs available and the skills required, one of the resounding concerns – and perhaps barriers to a wide-scale adoption of these technologies – is the fear that workers will lose their livelihood to robots.
Managing the change: involvement and upskilling of workers is key to develop a strategy that reaps the benefits of automation, while avoiding the negative impacts for employees
Robotics and AI are often viewed as having the potential to negatively impact employment. According to a study conducted by Frey & Osborne in 20173, 47% of total employment is at a high risk of being lost to automation. Therefore, when it comes to adopting robotics in the workplace, organisations need to build a strategy that considers how the company can benefit from emerging technologies, while addressing any negative effects for employees. Success relies as much on human resources and human factors considerations, as it does on developing the technology itself.
In their research paper ‘Identifying the key organisational human factors for introducing human-robot collaboration in industry’4, Dr Sarah Fletcher and Professor Phil Webb, state that inattention to the human element has been highlighted as a major barrier which is preventing organisations from grasping the full benefits of technological change. The fundamental changes arising from the implementation of new technology in the workplace can cause uncertainty for employees - which is linked with higher stress levels, increased staff turnover and reduced job satisfaction. To overcome this, communication and the active involvement of employees in the implementation of the change itself is a vital strategy to alleviate employee uncertainty and reduce resistance. Operator participation is a catalyst and a major link for the successful implementation and development of the automation.”
The effective adoption of robotics, automation and other Industry 4.0 technologies in the workplace doesn’t just come down to advancing the technology itself – it’s the interface between robots and humans that will be key to success. The Industrial Psychology and Human Factors Group at Cranfield suggests that while technology is advancing, it’s the behaviour and attitudes of the workforce that will have a direct impact on the adoption and effectiveness of such advancements. The key challenge for the manufacturing industry is not just designing the technology, but understanding how best to integrate it to optimise both efficiency and wellbeing.
In order for robots and automation to become a more accepted concept, HR practitioners also need to support employees by considering how they can be re- or up-skilled, in order to replace the skills that have become obsolete due to automation, and therefore remain in the workforce. With the changes in technology, the knowledge and skills required by organisations will also change. There will be less of a requirement for routine cognitive and manual skills and an increased need for skill variety – greater autonomy, interdependence and increased cognitive, creative, technical and social skills – with people and machines working in complement with each other.
Avoid automating broken processes: the importance of clear goals, lifelong learning and addressing the potential skills gap for robotics engineers
Directors need to consider their goals when automating work to ensure they are not simply automating broken processes. Time and care are required in the implementation of new technology, particularly as technologies can often develop at a faster rate than people can develop the skills required to manage them. As a result businesses need to have a clear vision of what the organisation will look like after automation is introduced, in order to explain the reasoning, benefits and opportunities for employees and identify those who will need to be retrained or redeployed as a result. Organisations need to be “learning organisations” and invest in training, education and digital development.
Wider implementation of automation will also require more engineers with skills in robotics, says Dr Gilbert Tang, Course Director of the Robotics MSc at Cranfield. “As the adoption of robotics technology progressively rises, the skills gap for automation engineers will also widen accordingly. This means the demand for engineers with the skillset to develop and maintain robotic systems in workplaces is increasing. The significant growth in the number of students applying for the MSc in Robotics at Cranfield over the last three years suggest there is a good level of job growth in the robotics industry.”
The adoption of robotics in areas such as construction, could further boost opportunities for software engineers within the more traditional industries, strengthening the case for wider adoption and the need for continuous skill development. Discussing the Learning Camera project, Dr Yifan Zhao suggested that not only would the technology better equip construction sites to deliver projects and tackle productivity issues, it would also promote the need for the industry to attract more talent with skills in software and hardware development.
An opportunity to be world-leading in robotics and automation, for business and academia
Further embracing automation and robotics could give the UK the opportunity to lead globally, both in business and academia. The BEIS report calls for the government to work with investors and businesses to provide advice, networking and access to finance to help the UK reap the benefits of new technological advancements. The government also needs to work with industry to address the challenges posed by new technology in the workplace, identify the sectors and skills most at risk from automation and develop an action plan to manage the transition.
By improving adoption and understanding, businesses in automation and robotics could be world-leading and universities could collaborate worldwide to be at the forefront of the development of new technology. Furthermore, an increased focus on lifelong learning and upskilling could provide more opportunities for all – with more people developing the required skills for the future workplace.
So is the future of the UK workplace robotic? Emerging technology has the potential to affect work and employees significantly, but the speed at which this happens depends on the developments in the technologies themselves and the willingness of organisations to adopt them. The evidence presented in the BEIS Committee report suggests there may be a strong case for the wider adoption of robotics and AI in the UK. However, applying the technology intelligently, managing the change in working environment and providing support for employees will be key to success.
1 Parry E and Battista V. The impact of emerging technologies on work: a review of the evidence and implications for the human resource function [version 1; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]. Emerald Open Res 2019, 1:5
2 DeLoach, J. Oversight of workplace dynamics: the impact of technology. NACD BoardTalk. 2018
3 Frey, C., Osborne, A. (2017) The future of employment: How susceptible are jobs to computerisation?, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Volume 114, pp 254-280.
4 Fletcher, S., Webb, P. (2015) Identifying the key organisational human factors for introducing human-robot collaboration in industry: an exploratory study, The International Journal of Avanced Manufacturing Technology, Volume 81, 9-12, pp 2143-2155