March 2019

39 www.drivesncontrols.com March 2019 EXECUTIVE VIEWPOINT n Invest in robots to bridge the skills gap “There has never been a better time to consider robotic automation, both from a practical and a financial standpoint.” Last year, Engineering UK, a not-for- profit organisation which works in partnership with the engineering community, took soundings from professional engineering institutions on the UK’s skills shortage. Some elements of its report 1 were encouraging, others alarming, but UK manufacturers need not fear for the future. Robot developers are rising to the challenge, making automation even easier to adopt, set up and apply. Engineering UK confirmed that 27% of enterprises in the UK are engineering- related, generating 23% of the UK’s total turnover. The sector now employs around 5.6 million people – a 5.1% increase in employment over the past five years. And for every new job created in engineering, 1.74 jobs are created elsewhere in the economy. Now the worrying element. Around 124,000 engineers and technicians with core engineering skills are needed every year, plus a further 79,000 in engineering-related roles. Yet Engineering UK predicts an annual shortfall of up to 59,000, and nearly half of the employers surveyed reported recruitment difficulties. The answer to this problem is to invest in robotics and automation, not just to overcome the evident resource shortage, but also to make engineering more appealing to the digital generation. There has never been a better time to consider robotic automation, both from a practical and a financial standpoint. The options have never been wider, allowing any manufacturer irrespective or their size or experience in automation, to take advantage of the technology. Set-up is no longer a specialist or time- consuming job and, with the availability of robots that are either collaborative or stand-alone, production systems can be modular and scalable. To complement this, robot manufacturers are creating application platforms on which developers and integrators present products that allow robots to be customised. Many robots are also Internet of Things ready with built-in, standard communication protocols. So they can be integrated easily into a smart production environment when the need arises. Of course, automation isn’t just about overcoming the skills gap. The UK has been slow to invest, accounting for less than 0.5% of global robot sales 2 . But to compete globally and to be cost-competitive, automation must become second nature to our manufacturers. It is the way that companies across the world are driving their productivity and quality, and we mustn’t be left behind. A dynamic production environment is also much more attractive to the up and coming generation of engineers. So, by investing in the means to bridge the skills gap UK manufacturers could also be providing the stimulus to narrow the divide. In effect, it’s a win-win solution. . n 1 www.engineeringuk.com/media/ 1576/7444_enguk18_synopsis_standalone_aw.pdf 2 IFR World Robotics Industrial Robot Report 2018 Managing Director, RA Rodriguez (UK) and RARUK Automation Peter Williamson