Robotics and the Construction Industry

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JANUARY

2020

LAURUS

LAURUS LOOKING AT THE FUTURE: ROBOTICS AND THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY www.laurusprojects.com.au


JANUARY 2020

ROBOTICS AND THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY AT LAURUS PROJECTS WE ARE KEENLY INTERESTED IN KEEPING AN EYE ON THE FUTURE AND UNDERSTANDING HOW OUR INDUSTRY MAY CHANGE, HOW WE CAN BEST ADAPT TO THE CHANGE AND EVEN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.

world

Industrial robots have essentially been a good

starting to introduce robotics it won’t be long

introduction into other industries including

before more of the construction industry

manufacturing. The technology has provided

utilises this ever-developing technology to

businesses with benefits that affect their

produce buildings faster and cheaper.

bottom line; robots are efficient, their tasks

With

many

industries

across

the


DECEMBER 2020

tend to be completed quicker, and they can

Workforce Changes

work for a lot longer than those in manual labour jobs, both on a day to day basis and long

As in any industry that introduces robotics,

term.Â

there is likely to be some changes to the workforce, however this should act as an

With that in mind, it is worth exploring how

encouragement to those in the industry to

robotics is currently, and will continue to assist

expand their skills and training. At this stage,

the construction industry in the future.

robots are not expected to take over entire jobs for some time, rather they will complete certain

Automated Technology

tasks – specifically those that expose workers to dangerous situations. It is thought that the skills

One of the main reasons for the introduction of

of those within the construction industry will

robotics into industry is that they allow for

look very different to what it does today,

automation of various processes as well as

although it is expected to be a gradual change.Â

allowing for consistent processing rather than having the business shut down every night.

Efficient Construction Process

Within the construction industry, it is expected that tasks like welding, handling of materials,

Better efficiency is something many businesses

and packing will eventually become fully

within the construction industry look for, with

automated.

the aim to reduce wasted time and product. The more traditional construction process does

This of course leads into the next change that

tend to have a lot of waste, whether that be

will be seen in the quality of work.

materials or product, which is detrimental to the environment, profitability and the client.

Quality Increase

Businesses may still find investment in robotics to be quite high, but as technology gets better

Because robotics is completely automated, the

and cheaper to produce, products that allow for

manufacture of parts and materials is expected

efficient processes will get more affordable.

to be of higher quality and more consistent. Human interaction does tend to lead to errors

Customisable Developments

and inconsistency whereas by utilising robots, their ability to repeat the same process over

One of the big benefits of robotics is the ease of

and over without inconsistency is certainly a

being able to customise work. There will no

benefit to the industry.

longer be a requirement to follow so many steps to produce a particular design or change


DECEMBER 2020

a design to suit the needs of a client. 3D printing is already allowing businesses within the construction industry to produce prototypes and samples before getting stuck into manufacturing and building, and as these printers get more affordable, businesses will be able to print parts and components to allow for customisation on site. Robotics will allow the construction industry to meet the needs and wishes of a client instead of pushing the client into what is available. While there are some downfalls to robotics being introduced into the construction industry – namely within workforce numbers – there are plenty of benefits for businesses to look forward to.


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