Has industrial automation had a positive economic effect?

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In this modern society, industrial manufacturing has started the transitions from human labors to automation, especially in developed countries such as Japan, Germany, China and the United States. The usage of robots in technology and industry are common now. According to Rotman, due to the industrial automation in the United States and China, there has been a decline in the number of human labour in the industry today as compared to the 1997 (Rotman, 2013). Japan is the leading country that produces and uses robots the most, followed by Germany and some European countries. Sittig said that as of today Japan holds control of no less than 40% of the robot population worldwide and $50 million has been invested on the development of the technology (Sittig) SINCE WHEN?. Guizzo stated that 8.6 million robots are registered by 2008 (Guizzo, 2010). It is necessary for modern production system to solve the high amount of orders and quantity demanded problems by applying automation. Moreover, automation could perform a delicate task with inconsiderable amount of error but the case is not always to show solving and showing a technological sophistication (Wickens, 2004). Union leaders claim automation causes mass unemployment while businessmen said it is one of the ways to remain competitive (Rose, 1965). Robots are able to perform and do tasks that human cannot do, or impossible to do. There are several advantages for using automation such as; saving costs, increase productivity and increase workers’ safety in the workplace. While reducing employment, hurt small businesses and less flexibility are the negative effects of automation. Jason Dorrier stressed questions; "are machines really replacing humans’ faster now than in the early 19th o...

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Lene Kromann, J. R. (n.d.). Automation, labor productivity and employment – a cross country comparison. From aim-projeck.dk: http://www.aim-projekt.dk/files/robot-employment.pdf

Kaiser, T. (2012, 11 14). Foxconn receives 10,000 robots to replace human factory workers . DailyTech. Retrieved from http://www.dailytech.com/Foxconn-Receives-10000-Robots-to-Replace-Human-Factory-Workers/article29194.htm http://www.dailytech.com/Foxconn+Receives+10000+Robots+to+Replace+Human+Factory+Workers+/article29194.htm Kaiser, T. (2012, 11 14). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.dailytech.com/Report Apples Suppliers Continuously Violate Code of Conduct Apple Does Nothing to Change It/article23867.htm

Sittig, A. [Web log message]. Retrieved fromhttp://www.arenasolutions.com/blog/post/robots-us-manufacturing

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