Jobs today and most certainly in the future are headed down the road of automation. But what about the welding field? Is manual welding going to be completely overtaken by automatic welding?
There is a growing interest in the future of welding. After all, there are already many different methods of automatic and robotic welding that varying fields, especially manufacturing fields, have implemented into their processes.
So, what’s the big deal with automatic welding? Automation brings many benefits, such as improved efficiency and accuracy, plus it increases safety within the production process.
With interest in automatic welding, there also comes some concern. Are automation and the use of robotics going to take away jobs from manual welders? Fortunately, automation does not automatically spell the end for those who have spent their lives in welding.
So, let’s take a closer look at the future of the welding industry.
Automation in its Current State
First of all, let’s review the current state of automation as it stands right now. It is estimated that 80 percent of welding jobs can be replaced by automation, but there’s always going to be a demand for those who have the right mix of skills in this field.
After all, automated machines are going to need to be programmed by somebody. And although robots are skilled in repetition, it doesn’t mean they can easily complete the number of variations that are commonly required in more skilled welding.
Just as other industries are investing heavily in automation and seeing where this takes them, the same is also true of welding.
Implementation of Automated Welding
Automatic welding actually came into existence in the 1920s. And in the 1960s, robotic welding (which is an advanced version of automatic welding) was introduced and used first in a General Motors factory. From that point on, the automotive industry became very interested in the technology, and in the 1980s, robotic welding became the go-to technology in the industry.
Soon after, more manufacturing industries started using automatic welding. As the decades have gone by, the technology has continued to evolve which has brought a multitude of benefits to anyone using it.
For example, automatic or robotic welding provides a safer environment in many cases. Manual welding can be a dangerous job. With a machine, the danger to the person is removed.
Next, there’s efficient productivity. Humans get tired. Automated machines can work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with no break. Much more products can be produced by machines.
With efficient productivity comes high-quality production. Manual welding can bring human error. Robotic welding gets rid of that potential error, thus producing perfect quality products that are all uniform.
Lastly, automatic welding can be extremely cost-effective. Yes, the initial implementation of the technology can be costly, but the rate of return will likely be significant in the long term.
Of course, as technology continues to develop, there’s always going to be the sense that it will become more efficient and effective. Staying up to date is essential to the forward-facing company using either manual or automatic welding.
The Expected Future of the Industry
Currently, some automated welders are more cost-effective than paying the salary for manual welders. Furthermore, automation is a more viable option for the more repetitive tasks on the factory floor due to it providing a continual process without the need to take a break.
Therefore, with the advancements in automation, it’s likely that machines are going to continue to replace human workers. It’s already happening, especially as technology rapidly advances.
However, there is good news for manual welders.
Manual welders still far surpass machines when it comes to complex welds. Yes, some robotic welders can do complex welds, but they still don’t have the capacity a human being has. Machines aren’t adaptable, nor are they creative – two things a manual welder will always hold over a machine.
Now even with machines replacing many human jobs, the machines can’t work on their own. Trained welders will always be needed to program and maintain the automatic welders, particularly when more complex welds are being done.
Automation within the welding industry brings a wide range of possibilities to companies, both large and small. However, this also means that welders are going to find their jobs changing, and in some situations, their jobs will be threatened. Ultimately, it’s certainly worth adapting to the change by learning all facets of automatic welders to help prevent job loss.
But the good news is that the common thought is that machines won’t ever entirely replace manual welders. There will always be a need for a real-life human.