Labor Shortages and Workplace Safety: How Automation Can Help

How Automation Can Help

Once considered too costly or too complicated, automation is on the upswing, spurred by an ongoing labor shortage that many economists predict could last another two to five years.

The struggle to fill jobs has created a take-what-we-can-get approach among many hiring managers in manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution. And as many companies turn to temporary staffing and third-party contractors to meet the demand for workers in material handling, ineffective training, and the lack of operating experience are creating high-risk work environments, safety managers say.

Often portrayed as an adversary to workers who feared being replaced, automated technology today is perceived as an ally that can make their jobs easier, more fulfilling, and safer, according to a new survey of 500 U.S. warehouse workers commissioned by Lucas Systems.

The Lucas Systems Voice of the Warehouse Worker Insights found that technology is a critical driver in employee attraction and retention, with 74 percent of respondents saying they were willing to trade pay for better technology tools to do their jobs. One of the study’s most impactful findings shows that 90 percent of respondents believe investment in new technology will help attract and retain workers rather than create a fear of
replacement. And 88 percent said they believe that investing in automation is an investment in the company’s workforce.

In addition to bottom-line benefits such as higher productivity and increased profits, automated solutions have inherent benefits such as less physical exertion that leads to increased personal safety, greater job satisfaction, and less staff turnover