Small and Medium Manufacturing Study: Robotics and Technology Engagement Report
DOWNLOAD COPY HERE
To guide future initiatives to accelerate technology adoption, Impact Washington partnered with ARM – Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing, a Manufacturing USA institute, and four Manufacturing Extension Partnership centers launched the SMM1 Study: Robotics and Technology Engagement.
The study focused on advanced technologies, such as robotics and automation, to alleviate pain points and improve efficiencies in manufacturing operations and intended to inform stakeholders about how utilized manufacturing automation is in each state.
The study set out to validate key challenges and determine how the Manufacturing Extension Partnership network and other manufacturing support organizations accelerate technology exploration and adoption efforts more effectively.
The team sought to Assess technology knowledge/ comfort level, adoption, historical and future investment plans, project success rate, implementation preferences, and workforce development among the SMM1 segment, which makes up 99%3 of manufacturing organizations across the nation.
The geographic scope focuses on the states of California, New York, Pennsylvania (SW), and Washington. The study offers a valuable snapshot of the manufacturing challenges, views on advanced technologies, and robotics adoption and implementation practices. The contributing MEP Centers and associated geographic regions are:
- Impact Washington — Washington
- California Manufacturing Technology Center (CMTC) — California
- Catalyst Connection — SW Pennsylvania
- FuzeHub — New York
The Small and Medium Manufacturing Study was conducted from December 2019 – January 2020 and collected 154 responses across various industries and companies. Findings show the study represented over 13 industries, with the most significant number of respondents being from Food & Beverage at 19%, Aerospace at 18%, and Fabricated Metal Products at 16%.
We encourage you to download a copy of the report to learn about the perceptions and plans of your peer companies when it comes to robotics and technology adoption.
DOWNLOAD COPY HERE
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1 Small and Medium Manufacturing. Manufacturer with under 500 employees
2 Manufacturing Extension Partnership. Network of public-private partnerships focused on supporting small and medium-sized manufacturers with the resources needed to grow and thrive.
3 Source: US Census Bureau