David LinckWorried about werewolves eating you? How about warehouse robots eating your lunch in the lunchroom while you collect the last few remaining months on your unemployment benefits? What am I saying here? I am saying that warehouse robots are taking over warehouse jobs. Pretty soon they will be taking over nursing jobs, truck driver jobs, and the remaining factory jobs as well. Our robotic age is coming, and what we’ve seen so far is merely the beginning. Okay so, let’s talk about this for second shall we?
There was an interesting article recently in the Puget Sound Business Journal on March 19, 2012 titled; “Amazon buys warehouse robotics company for $775M,” by Greg Lamm which stated;
“Amazon has long used automation in its fulfillment centers, and Kiva’s technology is another way to improve productivity by bringing the products directly to employees to pick, pack and stow,” and “Kiva shares our passion for invention, and we look forward to supporting their continued growth.”
Obviously, if Amazon wants to continue its low-cost high-volume strategy, it has to remain efficient in its operations. It also realizes that it has trouble filling the job spots it needs depending on the state of the economy, whether we are in an up cycle, or a downturn. It also realizes that there is a learning curve to training all these employees, and that often takes time, time that they don’t have.
It is been proven, and the technology is there for warehouse robots to complete all the tasks that were previously assigned to humans, and do it without hurting their backs, breaking ergonomic procedures, or filing lawsuits. Robots also don’t show up late for work, or require medical benefits, ObamaCare, or paid vacations. Okay so, if all of this is true why isn’t every company doing that right now?
Currently it’s just a matter of cost, that is to say that creating a robotic warehouse means lots of upfront investment, and the technology including all the sensors isn’t quite exactly there yet, but it is coming and those two factors will soon disappear making robotics highly profitable for any company that partakes in this new technology.
Perhaps the writing is on the wall and US Workers do understand that robots are a threat for their future job security. It may be that becoming a robotics engineer is the right way to go, but is it? After all, in the future robots will be designing themselves, and working at all the factories creating future and more advanced robots for all the various applications needed. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.
