Page 50 - Taiwan Hand Tools 2022-03 Edition

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FEATURE TOPIC

Q: Low birth rates, an aging population, and (RPA) with an identification system and using AI to create
a workforce are often cited by the traditional a master production schedule (MPS). The AOI process will
industry, hampering companies’ ability to follow this up to inspect products for quality control, followed
attract and retain the next generation of by AGVs transporting the product for storage. Semiconductor
talents. What role does AI pose in the hand and OEM/ODM electronics factories have already widely
tools industry to alleviate the pressure caused implemented automated/lights-out manufacturing and could
by worker retention? serve as the blueprint for traditional industries like the hand
tools sector to follow.
A: The issues posed by low birth rates and an aging
society are not limited to the hand tools industry, but As for the aging population, automation can resolve
also encompass the traditional industries. In the future, worker shortages and use AI to “learn” the process and
companies would have more significant difficulties hiring technique from skilled, older, retiring workers. In Taiwan,
production line operators, maintaining operation quality, and there are automated solutions for operations such as
limiting their operational capacity. plumbing/hardware cutting, metal heat treatment, die
development, to name a few. Other technologies like
In terms of addressing low birth rates, AI can automate human-robot collaboration and exoskeletons are still in
the process to lessen the impacts caused by worker development but highly regarded by the industry to resolve
shortages. For instance, normally, most companies would worker shortage issues in the traditional sector.
still be using handwritten orders, but in a smart factory, the
process would be replaced by robotic process automation

Taiwan Hand Tools 2022 Issue