When I was in college, a fellow student made his money by putting together what he called "assemblies.." They were a rivet, a washer, a spring, and a grommet. He'd assemble hundreds of them. They were the button in the car door that turned on the interior light when the door was opened. In those days it was an option, but was included in the more expensive models. That job is long gone, plus every time there is a new automation, hundreds, perhaps thousands of jobs are lost. In a normal free society it is an opportunity for a worker to get another job, perhaps a better one. Today it is an opportunity to receive welfare in all its forms. The lefties will tell you Capitalism doesn't work. What doesn't work is what they think Capitalism is.

A number of years ago I owned and ran an Engineering/Construction Co. One project was to install a computerized warehousing (with inventory-ordering) with a computer controlled conveyor system that pulled the parts required for that days computer printer assembly run and schedule. It then delivered the correct parts to the correct assembly station and then moved the assembly to the next correct station.

They didn't, at that time, have robotic assemblers with fine enough control to do any of the internal component assembly on the printers. But from parts ordering, storage, routing, delivery, and packaging--it was all automated. Just installing the system and going through startup took about 6 mos with 50 to 60 electricians and 80 to 100 mechanical installers.

Around 2001, I read a article that factories by 2025 would only have two employees, one man and one dog. The man would be there to ensure the machines continued working correctly, feed the dog and hit the shut-down button if something went wrong. The dog was there to bite the man if he reached for the shut-down button. Everyone else associated with keeping the plant running; electricians, programmers, change-out crews, etc. would be contract for one job and move on to the next job. No benefits and no overhead.

Thanks for appreciating the chemical, materials, and mechanical engineering that went into American Rock Salt! I feel appreciated.

And the thing is that most people only see the loss of those dockworkers. What they don't see are the computer programmers, machinists, and other skilled positions that get created as a result.

Hello richrobinson,
My shop is quite automated. My machines are often running with the lights out at night without anyone even monitoring them. We are not a production house though so they aren't able to achieve their full potential; a tool and die maker must write new programs for each new job since every one is unique. My people show up every morning, load their machines, work for eight hours and then leave their machines running overnight. It can be quite impressive to see. They are just buzzing along on their own rapidly shaping something from a block of metal before your eyes... When I started the trade I had to manually turn the handles of my machines and measure every thing with micrometers as I went. When we got digital readouts and no longer had to compensate for backlash my job became much easier. It actually became easier to train people then too. Then CNC machines took over and I needed fewer workers to produce the same volume, but the workers required a different skill set and more training. Then came CAD-CAM programming software on PCs and I had to retrain again. Software updates, new versions... on and on.

Ah... the Joys of New Toys and the rat race of keeping up. It is a challenge, but it is a labor of love.

The lesson: The more quantity needed, more repetitive and long lived the task the more efficacious the implementation of automation. That is the future and it will be accelerated, particularly if unskilled labor costs are raised by some means other than market forces.
Regards,
O.A.

You would be astounded to see the operation at some shipping warehouses who prepare just-in-time orders for delivery to merchants like Wal-mart. (example McLane in temple Tx)

when we mine it with remote-control robots, I will be
even more impressed. . letting the devices take the
hazardous jobs has always been my hope. -- j
.

Great...now, how are we going to be able to judge whether an employee is worth their salt?

I designed an energy management system that was installed in a major newspaper printing plant in Detroit. After it was just installed, I went to check it out before we turned it over to the newspaper folks. There were screw terminal blocks on the back of our equipment ( dozens). I noticed that one wire was on the incorrect terminal. ( this was low voltage wiring) It had to be moved one position. I took my screwdrive a was about to make the 10 second adjustment, when the shop foreman came over and said that if I touched that screwdriver to that terminal, they (the union) would walk out and shut down the plant. I explained that it was still my equipment, to no avail. I had to wait for an electrician, his helper, and a ladder ( the terminal was 18 inches off the ground). So, it took three union men, and a ladder to move one wire, not to mention the additional time. And we wonder what happened to industry in Detroit.....

This is what unions and greed have done to the unskilled workforce in this country. But they'll never admit that they did it to themselves.

In a sane country this machine would not pay for itself until the unskilled had gotten retrained and employed somewhere more productive.

And eliminates a low paying, overly strenuous, boring job. Also eliminates workman comp claims and allowes for lower insurance rates for the company.
This is the wave of our mfg future...we knew it would become more pervasive and cost effective. Progressives unwittingly helped it along.
The world has faced these challenges before, only I fear the work force's ability to adapt has been disempowered.

Unconditionally!
Which one has the most energy? the least?
Regards
(two laissez faire bulldogs at my feet.. )

I did some contract work down at waxdale, where Johnson Wax does most of its production. Back in the mid 90's it was pretty much all robots, even for material handling.

It is amazing.

If you ever get the opportunity to see paper made and packaged it is worth it. It is also very automated and has been for quite some time.

I've been in printing for 30 years and seen incredible changes in that industry too. Most assembly work was done by hand. What used to take 10 hours to complete now takes 1.