Robotics, AI and challenges in UK manufacturing | Interview with 3M’s Paul Larking

Paul Larking, Global Robotics & Automation Senior Specialist, R&D at 3M Abrasive Systems Division, talks to IoT Insider about why the UK manufacturing industry is tracking behind other countries with its adoption of robotics, what they’re missing out on, and how more emerging technologies like AI could further contribute to the industry.

Why is the UK manufacturing industry tracking behind many other developed economies in terms of robotics adoption?

Yes, indeed recent data suggests that despite the productivity benefits of robotics, the UK manufacturing sector has a slower growth trajectory compared to many industrialised Western countries. To be able to understand the reasons behind this, we need to identify the root causes of the issue.

The UK has some of the best universities in the world and some of the best technology researchers and tech talent. However, we are not very good at commercialising our academic research compared to other developed countries such as the US and Japan. However, I believe that one of the biggest barriers to the wider adoption of advanced robotics in the UK is the short-termism of decision-making when it comes to investment in the technology. Many manufacturers in the UK expect to see a return on investment within 12 months of adopting robotics. This is a very short time frame that doesn’t account for the longer-term benefits of this complex technology that requires a significant upfront investment. This mindset inhibits the fast adoption of robotics. By contrast, in markets with faster adoption of robotics, organisations are estimating the return on investment over the value of their contracts, allowing them to see the longer-term benefits of the technology and making it easier for them to justify the investment.

What are the biggest challenges facing manufacturing companies in the UK when it comes to adopting these technologies?

Manufacturers today are facing a number of challenges: from operating in a volatile global market environment to increasing costs and inflation, which is putting a significant strain on their budgets. Another big challenge is supply chain disruption, which has been further exacerbated by the increasing complexity of trading relationships with European markets. There is also limited availability of system integrators who have the capabilities to manage complex robotics applications such as solutions that automate subtractive manufacturing processes like sanding, grinding, and deburring. 

What are the opportunities for electronic manufacturers and how can digital adoption help?

The manufacturing industry has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the advancements of digital adoption, particularly in areas such as automation, robotics, and AI. In fact, approximately 90% of all robots in operation today can be found in factories and manufacturing facilities. Apart from improving productivity and efficiency, robotics offers greater precision and safety, resulting in improved product quality and faster service delivery.

Can you share a few examples of emerging use cases of robotics in the manufacturing industry?

One of the biggest trends in the industry is the use of low-code or no-code robotic programming. This technology offers huge potential to bring the benefits of automation to small to medium enterprises (SME’s) that can’t afford dedicated programming resources. The use of low-code and no-code robotics could also help address skill shortages in manufacturing by making the use of robotics in automation more accessible to people who don’t come from a traditional coding background.

Another interesting application of the technology is the use of sensory data from robots for predictive maintenance but maybe the biggest use case is augmenting human skills. For instance, technology trends such as connected automation enable manufacturers to connect people, processes, and data through Robotic Process Automation (RPA). In manufacturing this type of automation can be used to connect machines and automate processes in the manufacturing plant with minimal human intervention.

We are also seeing increased interest in cobots or industrial collaborative robots for lighter material removal applications. These smaller cobots may be able to work alongside human employees and take on tasks that are repetitive, dangerous, and/or require precision.

What will be the impact of emerging technologies such as generative AI?

The full applications of generative AI are still unknown, but some manufacturers are currently experimenting with generative AI to develop ‘vision systems’ that can characterise machine components and identify defects and repair strategies. In the future, generative AI will be used to translate visual information into generative adaptive processes, which will provide significant efficiency gains to organisations.

What is 3M doing specifically in the industrial automation space?

We have over 100 years of industrial experience, so we are using the skills and expertise gained throughout our business history to support manufacturers in their adoption of robotics. We do this by partnering with large robotic manufacturers to assess their system integrator networks and ensure they are well-trained and equipped with the right tools and expertise to comply with safety and quality requirements around the deployment of such technologies.

We also offer manufacturing solutions that leverage robotics to perform repetitive tasks which require high precision. For instance, we have a paint repair system that is fully automated. It detects defects, highlights the exact position, and automatically sends a robot to sand the defect, polish it and paint it. This is incredibly useful in areas such as automotive manufacturing and in any other industry where manufacturers need to streamline the painting process.

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