As a plant manager, you’re facing an industrial landscape that’s changing faster than ever. Some challenges—like fluctuating raw material costs or sudden regulatory shifts—are temporary. These are called VUCA events: volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. They can disrupt your operations, but they eventually pass.
What you can’t ignore are structural trends—the long-term shifts that are reshaping manufacturing for good. Right now, three trends are top of mind:
- Labor shortages
- An aging workforce
- Escalating labor costs
These trends aren’t going away. In fact, they’re accelerating. If you want your plant to maintain output, meet demand, and stay competitive, you need to take action now, and automation should be part of that plan.
Why you can’t afford to wait
The manufacturing labor pool is shrinking as millions retire across industrialized countries. The National Association of Manufacturers reports that 65% of manufacturing managers see labor shortage as their biggest challenge, with the gap projected to reach 1.9 million unfilled jobs by 2033.
At the same time, turnover rates are rising. Younger workers are looking for roles that are engaging and less physically demanding. If your plant still depends on an abundant supply of manual labor, you risk falling behind. Automation is no longer optional.
Automation as a workforce strategy
Automation isn’t about replacing your people—it’s about empowering them. When automated systems handle repetitive or physically demanding tasks, your team can focus on work that’s more complex, creative, and rewarding.
This shift does more than boost productivity. It makes your plant a more attractive place to work, helping you keep skilled workers in a highly competitive labor market.
Protecting your team and your bottom line
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are one of the most common (and costly!) workplace injuries. In the U.S. alone, workplace injuries cost businesses $167 billion in 2022. Automating high-strain tasks like palletizing reduces injury risk, keeps your team healthier, and lowers costs from lost productivity, absenteeism, and insurance premiums.
A healthier workforce means a more efficient and profitable operation.
Mitigating rising labor costs
Replacing a skilled frontline worker now costs between $10,000 and $40,000, according to Deloitte. In a climate of rising wages and fierce competition for talent, automation helps you stabilize costs while maintaining output.
Collaborative robots (cobots) can deliver fast ROI, streamline processes, and reduce dependence on manual labor—without major changes to your plant layout.
Building your automation readiness
The earlier you start your automation journey, the better prepared your team will be. Skills take time to develop, and as your people gain experience, they’ll be ready to deploy robots more often and more effectively. Meanwhile, robot technology will continue to become easier to use and more adaptable.
At Robotiq, our Lean Robotics methodology focuses on three pillars:
- People: user-friendly tools that help your workforce grow their skills
- Productivity: streamlined deployments for quick, measurable results
- Adaptability: flexible designs that respond to changing production needs
The takeaway for plant managers
The challenges reshaping manufacturing aren’t temporary—they’re here to stay. Acting now means you’re not just keeping up, but getting ahead. Automation can help you:
- Fill labor gaps
- Protect employee health
- Control labor costs
- Build an adaptable, future-ready operation
The sooner you start, the stronger your competitive edge will be.
Not sure exactly where to start?
We’ve made it extremely easy to see if a Robotiq Palletizing Solution is a good fit for your factory! Simply answer a series of questions and we’ll send you a customized 3D simulation and report showing exactly which solution matches your factory space and needs in just a matter of minutes.
The post “What plant managers need to know before automating” by Linnea Bruce was published on 08/04/2025 by blog.robotiq.com