Why Now Is the Perfect Moment to Automate
- 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.
- Pandemic pressure – COVID-19 exposed fragilities in supply chains and plant operations. Automation became a powerful tool to keep production running alongside health measures.
- 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.
Building Your Automation Roadmap
- Start small & pick low-risk projects – e.g., automate a repetitive packing step or visual inspection before tackling major workflows.
- Engage your workforce early – involving employees prevents fear (“robots will replace us”), reframing automation as a way to shift to more meaningful roles.
- Upskill staff – simple interfaces and intuitive software now allow current staff, rather than engineers, to deploy and monitor systems.
- 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
- Audit your operations to identify repetitive, labor-intensive, or error-prone tasks.
- Explore small-scale demos – many automation vendors offer proof-of-concept pilots.
- Calculate return on investment – factoring equipment costs, reduced errors, and increased output.
- 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