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The research checked out how electrician duties akin to cable pulling might be automated in Denmark. | Supply: AI generated, by way of HowToRobot
In a building website in Denmark, two electricians grapple with a cussed cable, their arms stretched overhead as they maneuver it into place. However at present, they’re not alone – two robotic engineers watch intently, their minds already racing with prospects. Might a machine help with this bodily demanding activity, permitting a single electrician to do the job of two?
The scene unfolded as a part of a brand new initiative that would considerably affect Denmark’s electrical contracting business. Because the nation faces a rising scarcity of expert electricians, business leaders are exploring a novel resolution: robots and automation.
To map out the business’s automation potential, the commerce union Dansk El-Forbund and employers’ affiliation TEKNIQ Arbejdsgiverne commissioned an impartial research by HowToRobot. The consultancy mentioned it revealed the potential for robotics to deal with the urgent labor challenges going through the business:
- By 2030, Denmark is projected to face a shortfall of 6,700 electricians.
- Implementing current off-the-shelf applied sciences may deal with 14% of the anticipated electrician scarcity by 2030.
- With the event of recent, absolutely automated programs, as much as 70% of the anticipated scarcity might be addressed.
“There may be already a scarcity of labor within the business, and the inexperienced transition will increase the necessity for electricians even additional,” mentioned Maria Schougaard Berntsen, deputy director of TEKNIQ Arbejdsgiverne. “This research exhibits that automation might be a key a part of the answer.”
Denmark’s electrician scarcity will increase want for automation
The scarcity of expert labor is affecting many Danish industries, however electrical contractors are significantly onerous hit. Thirty-seven p.c {of electrical} contracting corporations mentioned they expertise “manufacturing restrictions” because of an absence of labor. That’s excess of the 24% for the final business, in line with Statistics Denmark information from Might.
Electricians are additionally among the many occupational teams in Denmark that corporations have the toughest time recruiting. Simply over a 3rd of all marketed electrician positions find yourself with unsuccessful recruitment, in line with the Danish Company for Labor Market and Recruitment.
“This elevated demand places extra strain on the present electricians within the business to work extra with the chance of getting worn out sooner,” mentioned Lars B. Sørensen, space supervisor at Dansk El-Forbund.
The businesses taking part within the demonstration mission mentioned they hoped to search out methods to free electricians from the heaviest, most monotonous, and repetitive duties. This purpose has been efficiently achieved, in line with Mikkel Viager, a robotic engineer from HowToRobot. He noticed and analyzed greater than 50 electrical set up and upkeep duties as a part of the mission.
“We uncovered a variety of current, typically semi-automatic, aids and options that may scale back the time electricians spend on a lot of their duties,” he mentioned. “It was way more vital than we had dared to hope.”
The mission recognized 13 electrical duties throughout renovation, upkeep, and new building as appropriate for automation and optimization with new or current expertise. Particularly, the research discovered nice potential in automating processes akin to cable pulling behind ceilings and partitions, gap drilling for electrical installations, measuring and marking, and channel reducing for wiring.
“The evaluation exhibits monumental potential. Automation might help be certain that an organization can say sure to orders that they might in any other case have to say no because of employees shortages,” mentioned Schougaard Berntsen. “This debunks the parable that robots are taking jobs from folks.”
A graph exhibiting the analyzed potential in full-time equivalents by automated chosen electrician duties in Denmark. | Supply: HowToRobot
Automation reduces heavy and tedious duties
One factor is to automate to optimize work time, however within the larger image, there are different issues motivating electrical contracting corporations.
“What appeals to me most about automation is that we will spare our staff and scale back put on and tear. A few of these coming into the labor market now shall be working till they’re over 72 years outdated. If they’re to remain within the business, we have to take excellent care of them,” says Jesper Timming, Managing Director of the Danish electrical contractor Linde-El – one of many corporations studied within the mission.
Notably heavy duties in tough working positions, akin to engaged on ladders with fingers above shoulder top, will be carrying – particularly on the shoulders. One of many mission’s targets was, subsequently, to map out how automation might help scale back the variety of carrying duties and thus enhance the working surroundings. Throughout the duties analyzed, the research discovered an ‘improved working surroundings’ to be the general most important optimistic impact of automation.
A graph exhibiting the share of analyzed duties with a major corresponding profit if automated in Denmark. | Supply: HowToRobot
Measurement, grooving: A lot, however not all, will be automated
In the course of the mission, a number of electrician duties past cable pulling emerged as appropriate for automation.
One among these was the measurement and marking of placements for sockets, conduits, and so forth. Numerous current programs can scale back the time spent on these duties and decrease measurement errors.
Nonetheless, an automatic system utilizing a 3D scanner may scan a room after which plot installations immediately from a technical drawing onto partitions, flooring, and ceilings for marking. As well as, there are cellular robots that may print the drawing immediately on the ground.
One other activity that HowToRobot recognized throughout the mission was drilling holes in ceilings and partitions for sockets, cable routing, and set up. Drilling is each a dusty and noisy course of that always entails poor working positions for electricians.
In the course of the mission, a spread of off-the-shelf instruments have been discovered that may ease the work – from easy drills for making sq. holes for embedded sockets to extra superior cellular drilling robots.
A 3rd electrician activity recognized within the mission was channel reducing for hid cable routing. This activity is often noisy, dusty, and time-consuming, and a better diploma of automation can, subsequently, enhance each the working surroundings and release work time for electricians.
Whatever the activity to automate, electrical contractors ought to intention to discover a stability and give attention to what gives essentially the most worth for cash, beneficial Viager.
“Though nearly every thing can theoretically be automated, it’s hardly ever a good suggestion to intention too excessive,” he mentioned. “Once you break a activity down into smaller elements and take a look at the applied sciences accessible in the marketplace at present, you would possibly discover a affordable resolution that may deal with a portion of the duty, which may nonetheless be vastly beneficial.”
Marking robots can routinely make drawings on the ground. | Supply: AI generated, by way of HowToRobot
Danish union, affiliation map electrician automation alternatives
The mission concerned specialists from HowToRobot following electricians at work and analyzing their duties in session with firm administration and the performing electricians. Though the consultancy’s method is greatest identified within the manufacturing business, it has more and more discovered functions in different sectors the place automation is gaining floor, akin to healthcare and agriculture.
“With a scientific assessment of the alternatives and an intensive information of the applied sciences and the provider market, you lay the muse for smart investments that assist increase each the corporate’s backside line and staff’ job satisfaction,” mentioned Viager.
HowToRobot mentioned its course of systematically maps each the alternatives, advantages, and dangers of implementing robotics within the work. As a part of the electrician mission in Denmark, every of the taking part corporations acquired a report that gave administration an outline of its automation potential.
One of many corporations is at the moment exploring the event of a cellular robotic to help with pulling and pushing cables. A number of are exploring how different current programs might help electricians do a spread of duties extra successfully and safely.
Contributors highlighted one of many key advantages of the tasks: the method of involving each administration and staff in exploring new alternatives and methods of working.
“It’s fascinating to see that when staff and employers sit down collectively and ask what they will do smarter — a improbable listing of concepts and alternatives emerges on how they will make the office a greater place,” mentioned Sørensen.
Schougaard Berntsen acknowledged the significance of bringing experience in robotics and automation to {the electrical} contracting business.
“The mission has confirmed that for those who have no idea the applied sciences, it may be tough to see the place the potential lies,” she mentioned. “Once you take a look at it from a distinct skilled perspective, it turns into clear that there’s a nice untapped potential to change into extra automated and use robotic expertise within the business at present.”
Cell drilling robots can help electricians however could require some changes at building websites. | Supply: AI generated
How new sectors can get began with robotics
Viager provided the next recommendation for corporations trying to get began with automation:
1. Begin by getting an outline of the chances. Keep away from locking your self into a selected expertise or resolution too shortly, however give attention to what’s most wanted. It’s additionally a good suggestion to seek the advice of together with your staff and discover out if in case you have some ambassadors who might help drive the mission and push it ahead.
2. Get out within the area, and assess the potential for automating particular person duties. This may hardly ever be finished from an workplace alone. Get skilled tech folks with information of the market and options to scrutinize the duties. The intention is to look broadly in any respect the duties and discover the frequent denominators – after which be practical about what will be finished and whether or not the enterprise case holds up.
3. Seek the advice of the market on what is feasible. When you’ve gotten a transparent concept of your wants, describe them. Keep away from designing the answer upfront, however describe the necessity and the duty you need to automate and ask related suppliers. Typically, there shall be current off-the-shelf options; different occasions, it would require creating one thing new.
“Usually, 80% of the acquire will be harvested for 20% of the fee,” Viager added. “Making an attempt to realize 100% degree of automation, the value to succeed in the final 20% will typically be disproportionately excessive.”
Editor’s notice: This text was syndicated from HowToRobot.