How automation can help tackle construction's biggest challenges

The robots are coming! Actually, they’re already here – albeit in their less sensational forms of digitisation and automation. How can they help tackle the construction industry's biggest challenges.? Read on to find out...

Automated and semi-automated machines are most useful when carrying out mundane, repetitive or dangerous tasks that require accuracy or speed that exceed reasonable human limitations. Using robots to dig, drill, cut, weld, move heavy loads and pour concrete can help make jobsites more efficient, precise and safer. For example, robots...

• Allow humans to reallocate their time to more satisfying, high-value tasks
• Perform strenuous or dangerous tasks that would otherwise threaten the health and safety of humans
• Perform tasks in harsh conditions unsafe for humans
• Reduce insurance costs by mitigating human risk
• Work overnight to slash timelines
• Help avoid rework due to human error

It's no secret that the construction industry struggles to operate at peak productivity. In fact, there's barely been any growth in productivity over the past 20 years - largely due to the industry's fixed ways of working and unwillingness to change. But this unwillingness to change is negatively impacting not only productivity, but also profit margins.

Take mechanical, electrical and plumbing installations, for example:

• Mistakes in planning and execution can lead to inefficient on-site improvisations and costly reworks
• Coordinating multiple players with overlapping applications can be complex and expensive
• Repetitive work can be time-consuming, error-prone and demoralising
• Overhead work can be inefficient and physically demanding
• Skilled labour shortages can result in poor-quality installations that need to be redone

But even a slight bump in productivity can translate to a significant amount of money, especially on large and major projects. So, if increasing productivity is key to long-term success, where do you start? You start by evaluating your workflows end-to-end, identifying their inefficiencies and finding ways to optimise and then automate the processes.

The automotive and agriculture industries have already demonstrated that automation and digitisation can significantly boost productivity. A similar transformation can benefit the construction industry too. After all, it’s a relatively systematic and controlled industry - meaning it’s well positioned to take advantage of automation and digitisation.

There are always caveats - some fear that automation will take jobs away from humans. But the industry is already facing a labour shortage and employment demand continues to grow. Automation could help ease that number, especially with low-skilled jobs that are hard to fill.

The key is to combine human and robot talents, a concept known as collaborative robotics. For example, a robot still requires a human to manage its resources and programme its tasks, even with BIM helping to streamline the process. Collaborative robotics can help extend the productivity of older workers who have huge experience but are struggling with the more physical aspects of construction. It can also help contractors – especially those competing for high-quality talent – attract digital-native candidates that otherwise wouldn’t consider working in construction.

And as it stands, humans are still best suited to work that requires delicate handling and improvised decision-making. Leave the tedious jobs that demand extraordinary speed, strength and accuracy to the robots.

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