|
Hearken to this text  |
The examine checked out how electrician duties resembling cable pulling could possibly be automated in Denmark. | Supply: AI generated, by way of HowToRobot
In a building web site in Denmark, two electricians grapple with a cussed cable, their arms stretched overhead as they maneuver it into place. However right now, they’re not alone – two robotic engineers watch intently, their minds already racing with potentialities. Might a machine help with this bodily demanding job, permitting a single electrician to do the job of two?
The scene unfolded as a part of a brand new initiative that might considerably influence Denmark’s electrical contracting business. Because the country faces a rising scarcity of expert electricians, business leaders are exploring a novel answer: robots and automation.
To map out the business’s automation potential, the commerce union Dansk El-Forbund and employers’ affiliation TEKNIQ Arbejdsgiverne commissioned an independent study by HowToRobot. The consultancy mentioned it revealed the potential for robotics to handle 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 handle 14% of the anticipated electrician scarcity by 2030.
- With the event of latest, absolutely automated methods, as much as 70% of the anticipated scarcity could possibly be addressed.
“There’s 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 examine reveals that automation could possibly 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 notably arduous hit. Thirty-seven p.c {of electrical} contracting firms mentioned they expertise “manufacturing restrictions” resulting from a scarcity of labor. That’s way over the 24% for the final business, in keeping with Statistics Denmark information from Could.
Electricians are additionally among the many occupational teams in Denmark that firms have the toughest time recruiting. Simply over a 3rd of all marketed electrician positions find yourself with unsuccessful recruitment, in keeping with the Danish Company for Labor Market and Recruitment.
“This elevated demand places further stress 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 collaborating within the demonstration venture 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 keeping 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 venture.
“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 venture recognized 13 electrical duties throughout renovation, upkeep, and new construction as appropriate for automation and optimization with new or current know-how. Particularly, the examine discovered nice potential in automating processes resembling cable pulling behind ceilings and partitions, gap drilling for electrical installations, measuring and marking, and channel reducing for wiring.
“The evaluation reveals monumental potential. Automation can assist be sure that an organization can say sure to orders that they might in any other case have to say no resulting from employees shortages,” mentioned Schougaard Berntsen. “This debunks the parable that robots are taking jobs from individuals.”
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 greater image, there are different concerns motivating electrical contracting firms.
“What appeals to me most about automation is that we are able to spare our workers and scale back put on and tear. A few of these coming into the labor market now can 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 firms studied within the venture.
Significantly heavy duties in tough working positions, resembling engaged on ladders with fingers above shoulder peak, could be sporting – particularly on the shoulders. One of many venture’s targets was, due to this fact, to map out how automation can assist scale back the variety of sporting duties and thus enhance the working setting. Throughout the duties analyzed, the examine discovered an ‘improved working setting’ to be the general most vital optimistic impact of automation.
A graph exhibiting the share of analyzed duties with a big corresponding profit if automated in Denmark. | Supply: HowToRobot
Measurement, grooving: A lot, however not all, could be automated
Through the venture, a number of electrician duties past cable pulling emerged as appropriate for automation.
One in all these was the measurement and marking of placements for sockets, conduits, and many others. Numerous current methods can scale back the time spent on these duties and decrease measurement errors.
Nevertheless, 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 mobile robots that can print the drawing immediately on the ground.
One other job that HowToRobot recognized through the venture was drilling holes in ceilings and partitions for sockets, cable routing, and set up. Drilling is each a dusty and noisy course of that usually entails poor working positions for electricians.
Through the venture, a variety of off-the-shelf instruments had been discovered that may ease the work – from easy drills for making sq. holes for embedded sockets to extra superior cell drilling robots.
A 3rd electrician job recognized within the venture was channel reducing for hid cable routing. This job is often noisy, dusty, and time-consuming, and a better diploma of automation can, due to this fact, enhance each the working setting and release work time for electricians.
Whatever the job to automate, electrical contractors ought to goal to discover a steadiness and give attention to what offers probably the most worth for cash, really useful Viager.
“Though nearly all the pieces can theoretically be automated, it’s not often a good suggestion to goal too excessive,” he mentioned. “While you break a job down into smaller elements and take a look at the applied sciences obtainable in the marketplace right now, you may discover a affordable answer that may deal with a portion of the duty, which may nonetheless be massively worthwhile.”
Marking robots can mechanically make drawings on the ground. | Supply: AI generated, by way of HowToRobot
Danish union, affiliation map electrician automation alternatives
The venture concerned consultants from HowToRobot following electricians at work and analyzing their duties in session with firm administration and the performing electricians. Though the consultancy’s strategy is greatest recognized within the manufacturing business, it has more and more discovered purposes in different sectors the place automation is gaining floor, resembling healthcare and agriculture.
“With a scientific overview of the alternatives and a radical data of the applied sciences and the provider market, you lay the inspiration for smart investments that assist enhance each the corporate’s backside line and workers’ 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 venture in Denmark, every of the collaborating firms obtained a report that gave administration an summary of its automation potential.
One of many firms is presently exploring the event of a cell robotic to help with pulling and pushing cables. A number of are exploring how different current methods can assist electricians do a variety of duties extra successfully and safely.
Contributors highlighted one of many key advantages of the initiatives: the method of involving each administration and workers in exploring new alternatives and methods of working.
“It’s fascinating to see that when workers and employers sit down collectively and ask what they’ll do smarter — a implausible checklist of concepts and alternatives emerges on how they’ll 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 venture has confirmed that when you have no idea the applied sciences, it may be tough to see the place the potential lies,” she mentioned. “While you take a look at it from a special skilled perspective, it turns into clear that there’s a nice untapped potential to turn into extra automated and use robotic know-how within the business right now.”
Cell drilling robots can assist 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 firms trying to get began with automation:
1. Begin by getting an summary of the probabilities. Keep away from locking your self into a specific know-how or answer too shortly, however give attention to what’s most wanted. It’s additionally a good suggestion to seek the advice of together with your workers and discover out when you’ve got some ambassadors who can assist drive the venture and push it ahead.
2. Get out within the discipline, and assess the potential for automating particular person duties. This will not often be completed from an workplace alone. Get skilled tech individuals with data of the market and options to scrutinize the duties. The goal is to look broadly in any respect the duties and discover the widespread denominators – after which be real looking about what could be completed and whether or not the enterprise case holds up.
3. Seek the advice of the market on what is feasible. When you will have a transparent thought of your wants, describe them. Keep away from designing the answer prematurely, however describe the necessity and the duty you wish to automate and ask related suppliers. Typically, there can be current off-the-shelf options; different instances, it should require growing one thing new.
“Sometimes, 80% of the acquire could be harvested for 20% of the associated fee,” Viager added. “Making an attempt to attain 100% degree of automation, the worth to succeed in the final 20% will typically be disproportionately excessive.”
Editor’s notice: This text was syndicated from HowToRobot.
