The growing demand from housebuilders for materials to be manufactured offsite is placing new pressure on suppliers to the sector.
How to produce high-precision, high-quality materials fast enough to keep up with the rapid rate of construction in the sector, amid fierce international competition?
With the housebuilding boom looking set to continue regardless of the results of the general election, manufacturers are having to do more than simply hire the right people to keep up with demand.
Automation may not be anything new but robotics is now becoming more important to organisations within our own industry.
While it requires a significant investment of time and money to get up and running, the benefits to those willing to take the leap are multiple – and essential if UK companies are not to be left behind.
Increasingly automated
Firstly, robotics can vastly increase productivity.
One man and one machine may be a good model for smaller businesses but it is almost impossible to scale up without introducing a much higher level of automation.
Robotics really do make it possible for those carrying out high-volume manufacturing to do more quicker.
For example, we recently established two custom-made manufacturing lines that produce machined door-frame kits.
The fully automated lines include seven robots that have automated 95 per cent of the process, allowing us to treble our production capacity.
This has also increased our profitability and enabled us to move into 24-hour production.
Error-free service
Secondly, robotics improve quality and customer service.
No matter how much you invest in training, you can never completely eliminate the risk of human error.
According to research, for every one task in a million, even the most skilful human will make between 500 and 1,000 mistakes.
Robotics mean you can get much closer to 100 per cent consistency, reliability and accuracy.
This not only puts you ahead of the competition in terms of quality, but also creates customer loyalty by delivering a secure supply chain.
In direct contradiction of the numerous headlines claiming they are contributing to the skills shortage and destroying our livelihoods, robotics can help to create a happier workforce.
The human tasks that robotics replace are generally mundane and labour-intensive.
By removing these, staff are freed to learn new skills – from how to use the latest technology to supervising lines, programming and maintenance.
There is huge opportunity for those in construction willing to embrace new technology.
Doing so can provide a safer working environment while improving the quality, efficiency and capacity of our output.
It can also contribute to the skills and job satisfaction of the workforce.
Andrew Matthews is production director at National Hickman
Source: Construction News
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