Workforce Development
Tasks that were once performed manually are now automated by companies like Ajax-CECO-Erie Press, minimizing the requirement of skilled labor during the lingering shortage while improving worker safety.
Skilled Forging Labor Shortage: Automation Can Bridge the Gap Turnkey automated forging systems are helping forgers to address the ongoing skilled labor shortage successfully
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s the nation's economy faces an ongoing labor shortage, automation will play a key role in bridging the labor gap for the forging industry. This is particularly true for Tier-2 metalworking shops, competing with larger OEMs and Tier 1 shops for the small talent pool of skilled workers. According to the 2021 Business Outlook for Forging from Forging Magazine.com, "34.4% of all respondents indicate a general shortage of skilled labor has been a problem for their operations during 2020" and "31.7% of respondents will continue to worry during the coming year about the shortage of skilled labor." For 2022, Tier-2 metalworking suppliers seem to be in an even shorter supply of skilled labor as businesses across a range of industries lament the Great Resignation, the trend of employees leaving their jobs in response to the pandemic and wage stagnation. However, as with any manual labor process, automation changes the game. Despite lagging behind many other industries, the forging industry increasingly requires significant automation upgrades for new equipment
8 | IMDQ |
Q1 2022
and remanufactured/rebuilt models of everything from horizontal forging machines and vertical presses to hammers, and solid ball die forgers. In doing so, tasks that were once performed manually - such as moving heavy steel rods, pipe, and other stock in and out of equipment - are now automated, minimizing the requirement of skilled labor during the lingering shortage while improving worker safety. For example, gone are the days when three men would lift a heavy steel rod with a glowing end into, and out of, a horizontal upset forging press. Today, many manual tasks are replaced with the mechanical "hand," such as a robot or integrating servos that can lift, insert, and deposit materials. Even tasks such as automated tooling changes can be completed with the push of a button. Not only does this help to keep production going amid the current labor shortage, but also productivity is increased – which becomes a competitive advantage. By automating forging operations to perform some of the tasks of a human operator, productivity can increase from several hundred
