The Need to Automate to Alleviate Labor Shortages: Why You Should Attend the Automate Show
NEWS | BY KIVNON
KIVNON will showcase robotics automation at the Automate Show at Booth #4152
Before the pandemic, when the Automate Show was held alongside ProMat, it was the “cool and sexy” James Bond-style gadget section of the event. TheAutomate Show, taking place in Detroit from June 6–9, 2022, represents the height of pragmatic reality: namely, that automation is no longer optional. Given the severe shortage of forklift operators expected to persist for the foreseeable future, automation has become an absolute necessity. The only alternative is to automate using AGVs (automated guided vehicles) and AMRs (automated mobile robots) to transport loads of finished goods (or sub-assemblies) from docks to warehouses and from warehouses to docks.
Until now, so many automated solutions have been packed with unnecessary bells and whistles. While IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) and Industry 4.0 initiatives are useful and helpful, they are not the driving force behind the 2022 push for automation.
The problem is a shortage of workers
The total cost of a forklift operator, including benefits, training, and vacation time, averaged $40,000 before the pandemic. That cost has risen by 50% to $60,000. This increase is nearly impossible for manufacturing facilities, warehouses, and distribution centers—which operate on two or three shifts—to absorb. Operations managers report that budgets can rarely accommodate these wage increases, and human resources managers face significant challenges in replacing forklift operators.
Simple magnetic A-to-B AGV solutions address the HR challenge and operate around the clock, without breaks or health insurance. They are readily available and represent the fastest automation implementation solution for 2022.
Learn more about the Automate Show
Automate is produced by the Association for Advancing Automation (A3) and is North America’s largest solutions-based showcase of automation, robotics, vision, motion control, and more. Automate will feature a full spectrum of automation technologies and solutions, ranging from proven to cutting-edge. Automate will highlight solutions from 500 global vendors across 250,000 square feet of exhibits, featuring live demonstrations of products and systems that are solving industry challenges. Attendees have access to over 20,000 decision-makers from around the world—spanning more than 40 industries and representing every type of application. From small and medium-sized companies to global enterprises, attendees are looking to unlock tomorrow’s possibilities. Seventy percent of them plan to make a purchase within 12 months of attending the show.
Some great speakers at Automate
Fans of *Shark Tank* know him well. Daymond John, founder and CEO of FUBU and Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship, will share his 5 Shark Points: Fundamentals for Success in Business and Life
Daymond has been a phenomenally successful entrepreneur for over 25 years. Throughout his entrepreneurial journey, through both his successes and failures, he has learned a few things about getting the most out of business and life. He believes the keys to his success include cultivating the right mindset and following a few fundamental principles, which he calls his five “S.H.A.R.K. points.”
On Tuesday, June 7, Douglas Stanguini, Executive Director of Vehicle Systems – Global Manufacturing Engineering at General Motors, will discuss “Smart Manufacturing Excellence as a Competitive Advantage.”
General Motors is a global company focused on advancing an all-electric future that is inclusive and accessible to all. At the heart of this strategy is the Ultium battery platform, which will power everything from mass-market to high-performance vehicles. General Motors, its subsidiaries, and its joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Baojun, and Wuling brands. Stanguini’s keynote will discuss how the Global Vehicle Systems Manufacturing Engineering Center serves as the critical link between compelling design and viable manufacturing solutions, supporting GM’s goal of achieving Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions, and Zero Congestion.
On Thursday, June 9, Rachele Focardi will discuss “The Future of Work: The Multigenerational Post-COVID Workplace.” She will share data and findings on generational diversity, the effectiveness of multigenerational workforces, and employer branding. Focardi emphasizes that recognizing and addressing generational differences and preferences has never been more important than it is right now—especially in today’s remote and hybrid work environment.
Focardi, a best-selling author of “Reframing Generational Stereotypes” and a leading expert on multigenerational workforce effectiveness, will raise awareness about the challenges and opportunities in a multigenerational workforce. She will move beyond lazy, sweeping stereotypes about the evolution of peer groups and truly analyze the key attributes that distinguish generations from one another and bring them together. She will also share fresh research and insights to address some of the most pressing topics related to the future of work through the eyes of our multigenerational colleagues, including how Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z have experienced work during the pandemic; what they think the future of work should look like; and what employers can do to support them amid all this disruption.
Original post from Robotics Tomorrow