Robots to Help: 3M is helping businesses solve labor shortages through automation
The US is facing a « structural labor shortage ».
That's what Jerome Powell, chairman of the Federal Reserve System, said in a recent speech.
Recent data point to 10 million job openings in the US with only 5.7 million unemployed people able to fill those roles. One of the industries hardest hit is manufacturing, where it is reported in the United The United States has 803,000 job vacancies. The number of job vacancies worldwide is estimated to reach 8 million by 2030.
With such a tight job market expected in the coming years, more companies are investing in automation, and many are turning to 3M.
3M opened its first robotics laboratory more than 30 years ago and now operates 10 laboratories in eight countries around the world. The company offers a wide range of robotic solutions that automate the production processes of abrasives and adhesives. with better reliability, consistency and ultimately cost-effectiveness.
Works for car manufacturers
One prime example is the award-winning solution for the automotive industry called 3M™ Finesse-It™ Robotic Paint Repair System .
Almost every new car that rolls off the assembly line must be visually inspected for paint defects, then sanded, polished and repainted. This is a time-consuming and expensive process for automakers.
3M has partnered with the world's leading robotics expert FANUC to help develop a solution by fully automating the inspection and rework process. The two companies work closely with several major automakers.
«For decades, 3M has perfected the recipe for paint repair and is the most trusted on the market», — said Jonathan Carr, vice president of FANUC. «We took that knowledge and added it to the robotics program.
Works and tape
3M also combines robotics with its world-leading adhesives.
System RoboTape™ for 3M™, launched in 2022, uses 3M™ VHB™ to automate repetitive bonding applications. The new system allows industrial manufacturers to take advantage of 3M tape by maximizing production productivity, improving quality, reducing or re-manufacturing manual work and limiting rework.
Another recent innovation is the 3M bonding system™ On Demand Bonding System, which includes extruded tape 3M™ VHB™ . This end-to-end solution for automatic bonding combines all the advantages of 3M tapes™ VHB™ and the versatility of a liquid adhesive in a single size that allows it to be used at any scale. This product is expected to have an impact in several industries, including home appliances, transportation, windows and doors.
«In some cases, automation — this is the only way forward», — said Todd Lutkauskas, 3M's marketer for the new bonding system. «I'm working with a customer that has 70 open positions that they can't fill, and it's probably going to get worse.
But what about the negative stereotype that robots are taking away jobs?
"People are starting to see that humans and robots can coexist at work", — said Jonathan. «Automation can become a partner in your operations, and we're seeing a lot more acceptance.
