How Automation Supercharges Production During Labor Shortages

by | Jul 2, 2025 | Automation, News

Why Now Is the Perfect Moment to Automate

  1. Widespread labor gaps – even before the pandemic, reports projected over 2 million manufacturing jobs unfilled by 2028 in the U.S. as older workers retire and fewer young, skilled workers enter the workforce.
  2. Pandemic pressure – COVID-19 exposed fragilities in supply chains and plant operations. Automation became a powerful tool to keep production running alongside health measures.
  3. Affordable and accessible – thanks to advances in robotics, AI, edge computing, and vision systems, automation is now within reach for small and midsize businesses – unlike in the past.

 

The ROI Story: Speed, Savings, and Scalability

  • Fast deployment: Simple robot-vision setups often pay for themselves in 6-15 months.
  • Cost efficiency: Today’s automation tools cost less upfront and integrate more easily with existing staff – meaning fewer expenses on specialist hires.
  • Higher throughput: Robots work around the clock – freeing human workers to focus on quality control, problem-solving, and process innovation.

 

Smart Automation: What to Automate First

Focus on tasks that are “dirty, dull, or dangerous”:

  • Inspection tasks (e.g., machine vision checking for defects)
  • Material handling (e.g., mobile robots moving goods in warehouses)
  • Heavy lifting & repetitive chores (e.g., robot arms loading/unloading heavy items)

Even modest automation, like cobots assisting with order picking, can significantly reduce labor needs and boost productivity – without requiring a complete system overhaul.

Choosing the Right Tools for the Job

  • Industrial robot arms: Ideal for consistent, high-precision tasks like welding or part assembly – often confined behind safety barriers.
  • Collaborative robots (cobots): Work safely alongside humans at slower speeds – perfect for shared tasks.
  • Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs): Roam facility floors, moving materials or delivering supplies – navigating dynamic environments alone.
  • Machine vision systems: Cameras with algorithms can detect flaws, track inventory, or guide robots with precision.

Other useful tech:

  • Smart conveyors with real-time tracking,
  • IoT sensors for predictive maintenance.
  • AR/VR training tools, and digital twins for simulation and optimization.

 

Smart automation for labor shortages

 

 

Building Your Automation Roadmap

  1. Start small & pick low-risk projects – e.g., automate a repetitive packing step or visual inspection before tackling major workflows.
  2. Engage your workforce early – involving employees prevents fear (“robots will replace us”), reframing automation as a way to shift to more meaningful roles.
  3. Upskill staff – simple interfaces and intuitive software now allow current staff, rather than engineers, to deploy and monitor systems.
  4. Partner wisely – work with experienced integrators or explore “robots-as-a-service” models to align automation expenses with your objectives.

 

Real-World Impact: Automate to Compete

  • Labor shortages no longer stall production – robots fill the gap without compromising quality.
  • Employee safety & satisfaction improve as workers shift away from monotonous, heavy, or hazardous duties.
  • Business resilience increases – you’ll be better prepared for future disruptions, scaling faster when demand surges.

 

Taking the First Step

  1. Audit your operations to identify repetitive, labor-intensive, or error-prone tasks.
  2. Explore small-scale demos – many automation vendors offer proof-of-concept pilots.
  3. Calculate return on investment – factoring equipment costs, reduced errors, and increased output.
  4. Begin a phased rollout, monitoring impact and staff feedback to tune and expand.

 

🚀 Ready to Start Automating?

At Arnold Automation, we help manufacturers like you implement smart, scalable automation solutions tailored to your operation — from material handling and robotics to vision systems and integration support.

👉 Let’s talk about your next step. 📞 Call Arnold Packaging today at 855-276-6537 or email info@arnoldpackaging.com.

Laura Cadden
Arnold Packaging
Protecting Your Product & Your Profit

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