The impact of COVID-19
AI & AUTOMATION
Current trends and challenges in manufacturing automation Tuning into RPA and the possibilities the technology has offered in recent years , “ many manufacturers were already exploring the technology in response to changing regulations and compliance measures prior to COVID-19 . However , since the advent of the pandemic , the adoption of automation has accelerated and many are looking to RPA to save time and money all while keeping employees safe .”
Whilst adopting RPA “ may seem daunting at first , in reality , you do not need a deep understanding of coding nor an entire ecosystem of software robots to get started . The main challenge is to identify where to start .”
Though almost every process has a repetitive nature to it , “ many may seem like viable candidates for automation . Process mining , task mining and task capture are a great way to understand which processes are most suitable for automation and which will offer the best return on investment .”
The impact of COVID-19
The advent of the pandemic has had a significant impact on the adoption of automation . Organisations around the world have turned to RPA to improve efficiency , digitise processes to reduce the need to be in the office , and deal with increasing workloads in areas such as customer service and data entry .
For the manufacturing industry , this was no different . There was immense pressure to survive in less than favourable economic conditions , all while employee access to offices and the factory floor was restricted by working from home guidelines . RPA has allowed manufacturers to improve efficiency and digitalise back-office processes , thus helping organisations to adapt to the new business climate .
For example , UiPath customer Schneider Electric restarted work at plants by automating personal protective equipment ( PPE ) dispatch and reporting processes — a critical effort in saving jobs and generating revenue again .
Gavin Mee , Managing Director UK and Ireland at UiPath
Mckinsey
88 April 2021