The Double-edged Sword of Automated Technology in Manufacturing

Technology has the capability to make our economies more productive and efficient, but it also has the potential to disrupt the lives of many. “Disruptive technologies: Advances that will transform life, business, and the global economy” contends that policy makers need to fully understand technology and the role it might play in our societies in order to best prepare for it.  This article presents several technologies that may be disruptive in the future and lays out the potential impact of each.  

Of these potentially disruptive technologies, advanced robotics is one that I found to be of interest, particularly in manufacturing plants.  It’s easy to see how technological advances in our manufacturing plants can serve as a double-edged sword: increasing economic productivity while lowering the demand for low-skilled and semi-skilled manufacturing workers.  The benefits and/or consequences for this new technology can have an astounding impact.  Take Harley Davidson for example.  The American motorcycle manufacturing company has undergone massive change due to advanced robotics and automated technology in their manufacturing plants.  They’ve cut 1,000’s of manufacturing jobs in places like York, PA and Milwaukee, WI not because they’re selling less motorcycles, but because new automated technology has replaced these workers, lowering costs and making the plant more efficient in the process (Barrett, 2012).  This is great news for the company as it makes them more productive, more efficient, and more competitive.  However, it has a negative impact on the families of the low-skilled and semi-skilled workers as their jobs are disappearing, and unlikely to come back.  

These types of technological advances can be great for companies and economies, but devastating for families who need these types of jobs.  I look to my hometown of George, IA, population of 1,000, as an example of where this could have a devastating impact on the community.  The local manufacturing plant employs a sizeable portion of the town’s population.  If automated technology were to replace some of the manufacturing jobs there, the effects on the community could be catastrophic as many of those workers would be jobless or could even relocate.  What investments or policy recommendations would you have in this scenario?  How are our current policy makers dealing with technology: proactively or re-actively?  As future policy makers, it’s our responsibility to understand the benefits and consequences of future technology so we can prepare for scenarios like this one. 

Bibliography

Barrett, R. (2012, April 8). Harley plant undergoes whirlwind of change. Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel.