January 30th, 2017

ROBOTICS. Will They Replace Your Employees?

​The quick answer is “yes, many of them.” Look at manufacturing in automobiles, steel, and even food services. Robots have replaced thousands of workers over the past decade. Unlike human workers, robots are "always polite, they always up-sell, they never take a vacation, they never show up late, there's never a slip-and-fall, or an age, sex, or race discrimination case.” This should ease HR efforts since interviewing one would become…interesting?  
 
Some disciplines utilize robotics in the surgical field. For instance, prostate surgeries are mostly ‘robotic’ with a doctor operating, or guiding the surgery. One doctor told me that he can tie better knots more quickly, safely, and efficiently utilizing robotics than he could by hand!
 
Yes, no doubt, it’s not only coming, it’s here! Now, how quickly and how far will it spread?
 
I’m not talking about having R2D2, or C3PO wheel over to deliver your beverage at poolside. I suppose that may be possible today however one would need to be rather wealthy and lazy to avail themselves of that service.
 
I have a rather small ‘robot’ that vacuums my entire first floor – just over 2,000 square feet (an iRobot, Roomba® 860). It performs well without any human intervention other than dumping the debris (which I do), but is not as ‘perfect’ as the lady that provides bi-weekly cleaning services. It does, however, pick-up the dog hair and dirt that I used to vacuum almost daily!
 
So, what about the employee? Are you in a job that a robot could replace? As a writer, my answer would be ‘no.’ Could robotics analyze your teeth, identify a cavity, drill and fill it as does your dentist? Debatable, but possible?
 
I wish robots could replace the seemingly robotic politicians, but those that are true to their constituency and propose and debate issues and pass/deny legislation would be (today) impossible to automate...I think?
 
Some in the ‘fast food’ industry have already stated they could replace all employees with robotics and serve customers 24/7. Many Japanese restaurants already utilize robotics to prepare thousands of pieces of sushi per hour, pizza pies, ramen, and even mix drinks!
 
Should steelworkers, fast-food workers, bartenders, and many others begin thinking about gaining new skills that a robot cannot replace such as designing and servicing robots? Gaining computer programming skills that would make these robots operate more efficiently and reliably with constant upgrades as with your iPhone? Fewer employees also means fewer managers! There are always jobs and professions that cannot become automated (with today’s technology). Can yours?
 
I don’t want to be one of those espousing “the sky is falling,” however I submit that one should conduct a self-analysis and prepare, if needed. Technology is definitely upon us! Embrace it and use it to your advantage!  “Sam, prepare my breakfast!”