Japan began investing heavily in robots in automobile manufacturing long before the United States did. More than 20 years ago they came to the realization that there were many jobs in which robots just didn’t make sense. Not only have robots not replaced humans in auto manufacturing in Japan:
5.5 million people, or 8.7 percent of Japan’s workforce are employed in automotive manufacturing and related industries. Within Japan, there are currently 78 factories in 22 prefectures that build cars.
Auto parts manufacturing accounts for over 600,000 jobs in the sector, and another 390,000 jobs are allocated to the production of raw materials and basic equipment used in automotive manufacturing.
How can that be? Simple, says this article at Forbes:
At the root of the discrepancy is an appreciation of which jobs robots do more efficiently and which require a human touch. Leading car companies have almost completely automated their paint and body shops. These are jobs that require constant repetition and consistent quality and often present safety and ergonomic challenges. Although lead-based paints aren’t used anymore, working in these areas still could expose workers to a bevy of unhealthy chemicals, making these the quintessential kinds of jobs robots have been designed to handle.
On the other hand, assembly lines — which must deal with the multitude of options on new models from side airbags to built-in vacuum cleaners — continue to heavily rely on a human workforce. To handle today’s highly customized vehicles, with as many as 55,000 parts for the variety of electronics and other bells and whistles offered on autos, requires the flexibility of human workers who can adjust to changing needs and innovations without extensive reprogramming.
and that will remain true for the foreseeable future.
