Automation in Discete Manufacturing
Published on : Monday 03-04-2023
The automotive industry is a front runner in embracing automation.
It is also where the largest number of robots is working around the world – about one million units – which represents about one third of the total number of robots installed across all industries. According to the latest report by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), the robot density in the automobile industry worldwide is rising rapidly. Leading the field is the Republic of Korea, with 2,867 industrial robots per 10,000 employees in operation in 2021. Germany ranks in second place with 1,500 units followed by the United States with 1,457 units and Japan with 1,422 units per 10,000 workers. What may perhaps come as no surprise, China, which is now the world’s biggest car manufacturer, has a robot density of 772 units, but is fast catching up. In 2021, for example, robot installations in the Chinese automotive industry almost doubled to 61,598 units, accounting for 52% of the total 119,405 units installed in factories around the world.
More than ever before, the automotive industry relies on advanced robotics to maintain efficiencies as well as adapting to changing customer preferences, including the drive towards electrification of mobility. New players in the field like Tesla, which has already established itself, and Sony and Foxconn, are unburdened with legacy and exploring every technology available today in quest of minimising downtime and costs while maximising efficiency. The Chinese automobile industry today is the largest producer of electric vehicles accounting for more than 50% of the global production. It is no coincidence that China is also the largest market for robots, the country also the largest market for robots. The cover story in this edition examines the latest trends in automation in discrete manufacturing with focus on the automobile industry.
