1. A Manufacturing Standpoint
Robots vs. Humans
A Manufacturing Standpoint
Computer Integrated Manufacturing
© 2013 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

2. Work Force Economy Safety Functionality Ethics Robots vs. Humans CIM
Introduction to Automation
Work Force
Economy
Safety
Functionality
Ethics
Some ask the question, “Should robots be used in the work force?” We will look at four factors. You may remember these factors from our earlier study of design flaws.
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2008

3. Economy Initial cost Long-term cost Wide-spread effects
Robots vs. Humans
CIM
Introduction to Automation
Economy
Initial cost
Long-term cost
Wide-spread effects
Robots can be expensive to create, but they are cheaper than human labor to maintain. They do not ask for pay raises, health insurance, or sick days. It is still necessary to maintain them, but in the long run, they are cheaper than humans. This is good for the company employing them, but it is detrimental to the local human population. Are jobs being outsourced to robots?
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2008

4. Safety Physical safety Mental safety Robots vs. Humans CIM
Introduction to Automation
Safety
Physical safety
Mental safety
Robots can perform dangerous jobs to save human workers from risk. In addition, robots can perform mundane or repetitive tasks that human workers prefer not to do. The efficiency of humans over an extended period of time at a mundane task diminishes while that of an automated worker does not.
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2008

5. Functionality Humans may be incompetent but can be trained
Robots vs. Humans
CIM
Introduction to Automation
Functionality
Humans may be incompetent but can be trained
Even competent humans make mistakes
Although automation is fairly consistent, it does require routine maintenance. If an automated machine is completing a task incorrectly without check, it will continue to complete the task incorrectly. While the same holds true for a human worker, the damage inflicted will be less. Automation is typically faster than human work.
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2008

6. Ethical Questions Does automation steal jobs?
Robots vs. Humans
CIM
Introduction to Automation
Ethical Questions
Does automation steal jobs?
Are companies willing to risk human life over that of an expensive machine?
Is it okay to move a factory to impoverished countries?
The question of moving a factory to an impoverished country is complex. On the one hand, US citizens lose jobs, but globalization does allow (theoretically) underprivileged people to work. If the move is accompanied by automation, all humans lose out.
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2008

7. The Work of Robots Repetitive tasks Dangerous tasks Micro tasks
Robots vs. Humans
CIM
Introduction to Automation
The Work of Robots
Repetitive tasks
Dangerous tasks
Micro tasks
Repetitive tasks include inserting fasteners, painting, reading bar codes.
Dangerous tasks include work environments that are unhealthy to humans. This may be a situation where the air is toxic or where there is no air, such as the case in outer space or in the ocean depths.
Micro tasks refer to those tasks performed in a very small environment. One such environment is the human body.
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2008

8. Image Resources
Microsoft, Inc. (2008). Clip art. Retrieved March 15, 2008, from