Robotics
UK: Focused on short-term ROI Among the many potential explanations for this are a focus on short-term payback rather than longer-term total cost of ownership (TCO); a fear of change; outdated perceptions of engineering as a career; a lack of government incentives; our reliance on cheap manual labour; and no long-term national manufacturing strategy. While some of these are beginning to change – the government recently announced a £4.5bn package of support for British manufacturing, for example – should we also be looking to our European neighbours for some automation inspiration? Germany: Prioritising precision and innovation Dr Bob Struijk certainly thinks so. As the Vice President of FANUC Europe, Dr Struijk has overseen automation installations across numerous countries, and believes there are a variety of reasons why certain nations are further ahead of the UK on their automation journey. “Germany is the clear European automation powerhouse and owes a large part of its success to a profound respect for engineering and manufacturing,” he explains. “The German model emphasises the meticulous craftsmanship of products, fostering a culture that places a premium on precision and innovation. Catapulted by the automotive industry, robotics and automation have been at the forefront of bringing Germany to its position today as a manufacturing leader.” In addition, bridging the gap between industry and academia has helped to boost German innovation. “In Germany, collaborative efforts between industry and academia contribute to a continuous cycle of research, development and implementation, creating an ecosystem that thrives on technological advancement. The German apprenticeship
system also provides a seamless flow of skilled labour into industry, at low cost. The UK can learn from this by cultivating a similar synergy between its educational institutions and industrial sector to breed a culture of continuous improvement.” “By automating dull, dirty and dangerous tasks, these nations have not only increased their manufacturing efficiency but have also enhanced the overall wellbeing of their workforce” In this regard, FANUC UK is working hard to help develop a pipeline of manufacturing talent through a range of different initiatives. The company’s Training Academy at its Coventry HQ offers accredited courses that feed into educational programmes, giving students hands- on robotics experience; it recently held its first ever Work Experience Week, for young people aged 16-18; and the 2023 FANUC UK Open House played host to the finals of the WorldSkills UK Industrial Robotics competition. However, for a nation built on SMEs, Dr Struijk is also clear that UK government support is critical to future success: “The penetration of robotics and automation in the UK is especially low among small and medium sized enterprises. Government tax breaks or accelerated depreciation of robots could certainly help to change this.” Nordic nations: A supportive business environment At sixth place in the global automation league
29 Machinery & Manufacturing
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