AEROSPACE ROBOT AUTOMATION - GOOD OR BAD?
How automation is changing aircraft production and what it means for people and manufacturers Robots are taking on a growing range of tasks in aerospace manufacturing, from drilling and fastening to handling materials and supporting inspection. Their strongest case is where work is repetitive, physically demanding or requires consistent positioning. But aerospace factories build complex, high-value products, so automation only helps when the process is well designed, closely controlled and worth the investment. The change is neither simply good nor bad. Robots can improve some production tasks and reduce exposure to difficult work. They can also be costly to integrate, require new skills and displace particular jobs. The outcome depends on which work is automated and how the people, process...