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MTU’s Advanced Manufacturing Programs Prepare Graduates for Industry 4.0

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An engineer uses a laptop to solve an advanced manufacturing engineering problem.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 12% growth in manufacturing engineering jobs through 2033, indicating strong demand for professionals with these skills. ​ And many of these jobs will be derived from the advanced manufacturing of Industry 4.0.

Advanced manufacturing is the broad, encompassing term for the integration of innovative technologies, automation, cyber-physical systems, data analytics, and advanced materials into traditional manufacturing processes. One main goal of advanced manufacturing is improving products and processes in the manufacturing sector. Another is increasing efficiency and flexibility across the entire production lifecycle.

Both of these objectives are crucial to reshoring American manufacturing.

Take automation, for example. Automating processes reduces labor costs and makes industries more competitive, offsetting the incentive to outsource. Modern technologies also enable higher-quality, lower-defect products. This precision is especially important to high-tech industries that the U.S. is known and respected for: automotive, aerospace, defense, pharmaceuticals, and medical equipment and devices. Advanced manufacturing also supports innovation ecosystems by encouraging creativity through Research and Development (R & D), prototyping, and customization.

And then there are responses to global disruptions (COVID-19) and geopolitical tensions. Advanced manufacturing, better able to support local, just-in-time production, also helps make the U.S. supply chain more resilient.

Because of all its benefits, it is clear that advanced manufacturing is crucial to the growth and sustainability of American industries. Or to put in another way, to reshore US manufacturing while carefully managing labor costs and operational expenses, companies must make significant investments in advanced manufacturing.

Investments in Advanced Manufacturing Accelerate

The benefits of advanced manufacturing are clear. A 2023 Deloitte report indicated that AI-driven automation could reduce operational costs by up to 30% and increase productivity by 20-25%. Similarly, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) emphasized that embracing advanced manufacturing is essential for U.S. businesses to stay competitive while building resilient domestic supply chains. ​

Admittedly, certain sectors have long been poised for advanced manufacturing. For instance, the semiconductor industry has invested heavily in both AI and automation. On April 15, 2025, Nvidia made a promising announcement. For the first time ever, it would produce its AI supercomputers and Blackwell chips in the U.S. To meet this goal, it will invest up to $500 billion over the next four years while partnering with local suppliers, foundries, and data center builders. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) is putting $100 and Intel are also expanding domestic chip production.

These commitments mean that a large part of the computational power required for driving advanced manufacturing—that for robotics, predictive maintenance, or AI-driven production optimization—will be increasingly available on U.S. soil. This availability will support “smart factories” in America while helping to build the digital backbone of the United States.

But it’s not just semiconductor companies that are putting big dollars behind advanced manufacturing in the United States. For instance, Stellantis recently announced a $5 billion investment in its US manufacturing network. This plan includes re-opening its Belvidere, Illinois plant. Similarly, Kimberly-Clark has committed to expanding its U.S. operations, which includes a new advanced facility in Warren, Ohio. And closer to MTU’s home, Corning’s upcoming expansion of its Michigan manufacturing facility will mean 400 new high-paying advanced manufacturing jobs.

Advanced Manufacturing Requires a Highly Skilled Workforce

All of these examples across various industries underscore the critical role of advanced manufacturing in enhancing efficiency, reducing operational costs, and mitigating supply chain risks. These effects are pivotal to revitalizing domestic manufacturing in the era of Industry 4.0.

However, supporting advanced manufacturing goes far beyond building cool things and adopting new technologies. Companies must also put money into their workforces, training employees of all levels in advanced manufacturing techniques, AI, and robotics. Creating a U.S.-based ecosystem, then, that supports automated, lean, high-output production begins with this most important resource: PEOPLE.

Admittedly, low-skill jobs will be lost to AI and automation. But as industries incorporate new technologies, there will be a demand for high-skill occupations in engineering, software, and data science. For instance, when it comes to technical and engineering roles, companies will need engineers specializing in mechatronics, materials science, and additive manufacturing. To manage digitization and data, they will require more industrial data scientists, automation and controls systems engineers, and cybersecurity analysts.

Also, to troubleshoot automated and computer-controlled systems, companies must bring on additional robotics technicians and quality systems analysts. And of course, supply chain analysts must be on hand to manage the just-in-time inventory while mitigating possible disruptions. In other words, advanced manufacturing requires a highly skilled workforce composed of specialists and innovators from various fields.

Examples of MTU Programs that Support Industry 4.0 Manufacturing

Several programs at Michigan Tech, many of them interdisciplinary, reflect the university’s commitment to integrating advanced manufacturing concepts into its engineering education.

Thus, they prepare students for the evolving demands of manufacturing in Industry 4.0.

These include MTU’s bachelor’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering Technology, Mechatronics, and Robotics Engineering.

MTU also has specific minors directly related to manufacturing. For instance, the university’s Manufacturing Minor has intensive coursework related to machining processes, design with plastics, micromanufacturing, metrology, metal casting, robotics, and mechatronics. And MTU’s Manufacturing Systems Minor focuses on manufacturing fundamentals and automated systems. Courses cover topics such as programmable logic controllers, simulation modeling, and discrete sequential controls. Complementing various engineering majors, this minor enhances students’ understanding of manufacturing operations and automation.

And through the Global Campus, Michigan Tech offers several online graduate certificates relevant to advanced manufacturing and its associated challenges. These include 9-credit programs in Manufacturing Engineering, Quality Engineering, Foundations of Cybersecurity, and Safety and Security of Autonomous Cyber-Physical Systems

Advanced Manufacturing Graduate Programs at MTU

In addition, MTU’s Department of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology has respected graduate degrees in manufacturing engineering. These programs are some of the few available in the United States. That is, as of 2025, there are only 75 industrial and manufacturing grad programs in the United States. And only 25 of these are available online.

MTU’s programs are not only unique, but also practical. They are created and taught by manufacturing engineers with decades of on-the-job experience from several industries.

And their up-to-date curriculum is also based on The Society of Manufacturing Engineers’ Four Pillars of Manufacturing Knowledge.

 

In particular, MMET’s unique programs focus on the fourth pillar–Manufacturing Competitiveness–which is at the hub of smart manufacturing, modeling, simulation, sustainability, additive manufacturing, and advanced materials.

As well, the program also strongly emphasizes the third pillar, Manufacturing Systems and Operations, which includes the two key areas of Production System Design and Industry 4.0 and Automated Systems. Coursework covers Manufacturing System Design, Planning/Plant Layout, Human Factors, Environmental Sustainability, and Safety Production. 

Furthermore, the program also supports several of the key knowledge areas that are integral to supporting advanced manufacturing: smart manufacturing, modeling and simulation, sustainability and additive manufacturing, advanced materials, and leadership.

Coursework Designed for Advanced Manufacturing and Industry 4.0

In fact, several core courses address these knowledge areas while preparing students for the specific challenges of as well as leadership roles in advanced manufacturing. Take Industry 4.0 Concepts) (MFGE 5200), for instance. This course covers smart factories, sensor networks, and intelligent decision-making systems. In so doing, it teaches students how to model and simulate digital factories and how to integrate these systems into existing operations.

And Organizational Leadership (MFGE 5000) helps students develop communication, emotional intelligence, and ethical decision-making. Educating engineers in communication and decision-making is key to the complex, changing tasks of not only training employees but also integrating advanced technologies and tools in the advanced manufacturing environment. This course prepares students for technical leadership roles, such as those of team leads, project managers, and cross-functional coordinators.

In addition, the content of Statistical Methods (MA 5701) prepares students to lead Six Sigma and continuous improvement initiatives. Other core courses are Tolerance Analysis with Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (MFGE5100) and Industrial Safety (MFGE5500).

Beyond these required courses, others prepare students for some of the specific challenges of advanced manufacturing. For instance, Operations Management (BA 5610), which focuses on lean systems, ERP integration, and demand forecasting, trains students to analyze operations holistically, from inventory to logistics to production. Furthermore, Introduction to Sustainability and Resilience (ENG 5515) recognizes that sustainability is more than just a buzzword. Its content introduces engineers to ecological economics, sustainability metrics, and policy-driven design. Therefore, it builds those systems-thinking skills necessary for leading green transitions, which are crucial for industries like automotive, energy, aerospace, and consumer goods.

Examples of Current Students in MTU’s Online Manufacturing Program

According to John Irwin, Professor and Chair, Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology, MTU’s online program is ideal for working professionals. Two of Global Campus’s current students are engineers at top-tier automotive companies. In their projects, they are supporting advanced manufacturing by developing methods for increased part production and safety.

For instance, shared spaces where humans and robots work and interact in close proximity are common in advanced manufacturing. One student is working to increase safety for collaborative robotic systems. Another MS Thesis student is collaborating with Pettibone, which produces material handling equipment. They are conducting a lean energy study to pinpoint both direct and indirect energy waste in production. The goal: increasing efficiency without sacrificing productivity.

Since the introduction of graduate degrees in MMET, we’ve had many full-time engineers pursue our programs. And these programs are growing. The Global Campus Fall 2025 enrollment has increased 100% over last spring semester. At MMET, we’re always looking to provide more opportunities for working professionals to pursue their research while earning a respected degree from Michigan Tech.

John Irwin

Learn More About Michigan Tech’s Online Graduate Program in Manufacturing Engineering

All in all, Michigan Technological University has programs that are strategically aligned to support the upskilling needed for manufacturing for Industry 4.0. Graduates of MTU’s online graduate manufacturing program, for instance, are well-positioned for various roles–especially those in leadership–across advanced manufacturing. 

Learn more and talk to subject matter experts by attending an upcoming virtual information session on Michigan Tech’s online graduate program in manufacturing engineering.

DETAILS:

  • Date: Thursday, June 19
  • Time: 11:30 AM (EDT)
  • Location: Zoom
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EV Excitement Brought to Students by MEDC and MTU

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Hope TRIO students take in a STEM tour at Michigan Tech and leave with their own EVs.

LEARN, CODE, INNOVATE: this was the motto of 2024’s MEDC-sponsored EV Husky outreach events for both middle and high-school students.

In 2024, students and staff from Michigan Technological University‘s Electrical & Computer Engineering Department partnered with the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and the Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering Department. Michigan Tech’s engineering ambassadors wowed with several interactive lesson plans–thanks to the generous funding of Michigan Economic Development Corporations (MEDC)’s Talent Action Team (TAT) Strategic Investment Grants.

Making a Difference with MEDC’s Funding

The MEDC grant to Michigan Tech is part of a combined total of nearly $30 million that MEDC has invested with Michigan’s higher education institutions since last year. These partners work with advanced manufacturing employers to design and deliver a curriculum that prepares students for in-demand mobility-related careers.

The MEDC’s Talent Solutions division consortium of EV/mobility and semiconductors partners includes more than 20 major employers and national industry groups, 17 higher education partners including Michigan Tech, and workforce and PK-12 leaders across Michigan.

This division of MEDC has also created cohorts for skills building and networking. 1,100 university students, including 300 MTU students, are leveraging these to connect to Michigan’s strategic industries and employers.

We are committed to creating stronger pathway to 21st-century careers. Together, we’re helping cultivate, attract, and retain young talent while showcasing Michigan as a hub for a future-ready workforce essential to building a stronger economy.

Kerry Ebersole Singh, MEDC Executive Vice President & Chief of Talent Solutions and Engagement Officer

Visiting Saline High School to Share an EV Lesson

MEDC’s funding has helped Michigan Tech’s enthusiastic STEM ambassadors put on several, well-attended outreach events.

The main objective of MTU’s lessons and activities: use EV technology to get middle- and high-school students–the next generation of innovators and leaders–excited about STEM. Eager students learned about EV technology through interacting and coding with Arduinos. (If you’re not familiar with Arduinos, they are ingenious [and inexpensive] tools combining physical circuit boards (microcontrollers) and open-source software. With them, users can learn to code, designing and building devices that interact with external hardware, such as lights, sensors, and speakers.)

Another goal was introducing certain groups to Michigan Tech and all that the Copper Country has to offer.

Most recently, over the holiday break (Dec. 17, 2024), Tory Cantrell (Mechanical Engineering) travelled to Saline High School. There, she hosted an hour-long Arduino workshop for 25 high school students. The group learned about how engineers design and implement ultrasonic sensors in electric vehicles (EVs) and other products. Then, the students built and tested a circuit that used an ultrasonic sensor. This sensor read the distance an object was from the breadboard and plotted the distance over time.

And the learning didn’t stop there. After the lesson, each student received an Arduino Super Starter kit and a list of at-home projects.

I really enjoyed the overall experience. It was very fun to get a bit more hands-on experience than I would usually get on a regular day. It was also a very nice introduction to the basics of Arduino, something I have been wanting to try for a while.

Caleb Summers, high school student at the Saline event

Interacting With EVs at the Copper Trails STEM Festival

And just a week earlier, Michigan Tech brought their EV ambassadors to the Copper Trails STEM Festival (Dec. 10, 2024). This dynamic event was jointly sponsored by these generous partners–Mind Trekkers, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the MiSTEM Network, and UP Michigan Works!. Aimed at students and educators from 15 area schools, this event showcased in-demand STEM careers, resources, and cutting-edge applications.

Students create their own tracks for EVs at MTU's table at the Copper Trails STEM event.

Skyler Brawley (Computer Engineering) and Tory Cantrell impressed the middle-school crowd with an interactive demonstration that highlighted EVs and mobility. They hosted a table in which students spent 10-15 minutes creating their own line tracks.

Through this activity, students learned about sensors and robotics with line-tracking vehicle robots. Many students walked away with their own small line-tracking bot! 

How cool is that?

Building Bridges to First-Generation College Students

Michigan Tech has also used MEDC funding to create opportunities for first-generation college students.

That is, on November 23-24, 2024, MTU’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Department and the Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering Department partnered with the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) to host the Hope College TRIO Upward Bound visit to our campus. SWE advisor Jacyln Johnson graciously led this project. Crucial to the success of this project was Outreach Specialist, Lauren Huested, who volunteered many long hours.

TRIO Upward Bound is a pre-college preparatory program aimed at empowering grades 8-12 students who will be first-generation college students. This program helps students from income-eligible homes develop the motivation and skills to not only complete high school, but also to move on to postsecondary education.

In this visit, this student cohort had the full Michigan Tech experience. On their tour of the campus, they sampled MTU’s research. They met with MTU Enterprise teams focused on EV engineering and previewed robotics research. Then, they had an interactive lesson in which they built their own wheeled electrical robot in the ECE department Plexus Innovation Lab. For added inspiration, these students also spent time with Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI)’s McNair Scholars. 

The group completed their MTU trip by visiting the local area. Lauren Huested graciously led the Saturday outing, in which the group explored the natural beauty of the Keweenaw.

Engaging Future STEM Leaders

Crucial to the success of these events was not only MEDC, but also the dedication, leadership, and spirit of Michigan Tech’s student ambassadors, such as Skyler Brawley. 

In October, in fact, Skyler Brawley was honored for her very impressive contributions to SWE, the community, and to Michigan Tech.

And like Brawley, Tory Cantrell likewise knows the importance of giving back, of paying it forward. In fact, it was also an outreach event–Girl Scout Day from the local SWE Chapter– that first exposed Cantrell to the wonders of engineering. Continuing this tradition, SWE (March 2024) hosted Girl Scout Engineering Days at both MTU and Grand Rapids.

Attending Girl Scout Day opened Tory’s eyes to the opportunities in STEM fields, an excitement she wants to graciously pass on to others. “Hosting these events,” Cantrell says, “I love watching students get involved in the activity they’re doing, and I enjoy watching how their curiosity leads them to try new ideas to solve problems.”

The MEDC has been grateful to help with these outreach efforts that benefit both students and the state of Michigan.

We’re excited about the continued partnership with Michigan Technological University to nurture and develop the next generation of mobility professionals. Our aim is to promote these cool careers and in Michigan that offer high pay and career advancement. At the same time, we’re also building a strong pipeline of future Michigan mobility leaders.

Kerry Ebersole Singh, MEDC Executive Vice President & Chief of Talent Solutions and Engagement Officer

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Rev Up Your ICE Knowledge With New Program From MTU and USCAR

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A diesel engine, one type of ICE or internal combustion engine.

Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs) Are Definitely Sticking Around.

Very Important Note: The author constructed this blog with the helpful, substantive input and the important, factual content (and snappy title) from these two Michigan Tech staff, writers, and people: Kimberley Geiger, director of Communications for the College of Engineering; and Donna Jeno-Amici, coordinator of Research and Marketing at the Department of Engineering-Engineering Mechanics.

Discover the Latest Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) Breakthroughs.

Michigan Tech is proud to announce an expansion of graduate-level course offerings in the specialized area of internal combustion engines (ICE). These courses will be available on campus at Michigan Tech, as well as online at MTU Global Campus.

Students can enroll in these courses individually if they require expertise in a certain ICE area. Or they can take several to create a graduate certificate that provides more advanced, specialized knowledge in internal combustion engines. Currently, the Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics is developing a 15-course ICE graduate certificate. Alternatively, those interested may pursue an MS in Mechanical Engineering with a focus area on ICE.

And as with all graduate programs, the online application is free. And no GRE is required.

Enroll in Summer Classes.

Wasting no time, the ME-EM department is offering these courses right away. In fact, there are a few graduate-level offerings on deck for Summer 2024 and one brand-new course for Fall 2024.

Summer 2024 Courses

  • SI Engine Fundamentals (MEEM 5201): June 19-21, 2024, lab course
  • SI Engine Controls (MEEM 5203): July 10-12, 2024, lab course
  • Online Thermodynamics Refresher (MEEM 3990): June 10 – Aug. 8, 2024

New Offering for Fall 2024

  • Thermodynamics for Engine Systems (MEEM 5990) is available, along with our existing courses.

These courses could fill soon, so we recommend that you contact Jeff Naber at jnaber@mtu.edu for more information.

Learn From ICE Industry Experts.

These courses have been developed in collaboration with Dr. Andrea Strzelec, Sr. Research Scientist at USCAR. Strzelec, FSAE, holds a Ph.D. in Combustion Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Engine Research Center. She specializes in transportation and fuels, as well as engine research. Formerly the program director of Masters of Engineering in Engine Systems at the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering, Strzelec is lending her substantial expertise to Michigan Tech to launch this new engines-focused program.

USCAR, the United States Council for Automotive Research, is an umbrella organization facilitating pre-competitive research and development collaboration for Ford Motor Company, General Motors, and Stellantis. Its main objective is strengthening the U.S. auto industry’s technology base. It does so by promoting cooperative research efforts, reducing costs, supporting regulatory compliance, and accelerating the development of advanced technologies. Another of USCAR’s goals is keeping the U.S. automotive industry globally competitive.

This new graduate program will not only provide Michigan Tech students with both foundational and specialized ICE knowledge and skills, but also prepare them for advances in the US automotive industry.

Acquire Practical ICE Expertise and Skills.

Despite the move towards electrification and advances in battery technology, the world still needs internal combustion engines. For those unfamiliar with the technology, ICEs generate power by burning fuel inside a confined space (combustion chamber). The combustion process then releases energy, which is converted into mechanical work to move a vehicle or operate machinery. These engines generally run on gasoline, diesel, natural gas, and biofuels.

ICEs are known for their low cost, broad availability, durability, and high performance. They also have a rich research and development history. That is, ICEs have been improved and refined over several years. Besides working on lowering emissions and increasing fuel efficiency, researchers and engineers have made advances in engine design, control systems, and fuel compatibility.

Most importantly, these engines reliably provide high power and torque, features especially important in military, industrial, and other heavy-duty applications. The US military, in fact, uses diesel engines (one type of ICE) in nearly all of its ground vehicles because diesel fuel is less flammable and has a high energy density.

Furthermore, IC engines still feature prominently in automobiles, marine vessels, and aircraft. They also power a lot of portable equipment (lawn mowers, chainsaws) as well as some standby generators. And many hybrid vehicles still use ICEs in conjunction with electric motors, leveraging the benefits of both technologies to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.

For instance, take the new Formula 1 proposed post-2026 regulations. Along with cars that are 30% lighter as well as more aerodynamic and agile, FIA is proposing a power unit redesign that is “an even split between internal combustion engine and electric power plus the use of 100% sustainable fuels.” That is, even a plan for the sustainable future of elite race car driving involves ICEs.

Reach Out About the New ICE Program.

In short, for several applications, ICEs are likely to remain relevant for the foreseeable future.

For additional details on these courses and the new ICE graduate programs from ME-EM, please contact

To learn about all MS online programs, please visit MTU Global Campus.

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Robots in the Workplace

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Two large orange robotic arms in a factory setting.

Robots at Work

A robotic guard dog (or robodog) stationed in an abandoned warehouse relentlessly chases intruders across a barren, post-apocalyptic landscape. Armed with tracking weapons, highly sophisticated sensors, and artificial intelligence, this robodog does not give up its hunt easily.

To avoid spoilers, that is about all I will say about “Metalhead,” the fifth, and arguably, most terrifying episode of season one of the series Black Mirror. Although many have debated the episode’s meaning, one possible interpretation is a gruesome picture of what might happen if evolved, intelligent, unchecked robots ruled the workplace. And if they took their jobs, well, maybe a little too seriously.

The good news is that there are currently no rogue robodogs guarding warehouses and going on killing sprees. However, robots have been in industry for half a century. The effects of this integration, though certainly less sinister, have troubled a few. That is, one of the most popular searches on Google is this question or variations of it: “Will robots take our jobs?”

The answer is complicated: yes, no, and they already have. And the situation might be better or worse than you think.

Making Manufacturing Easier

When many of us contemplate robots in the workplace, we might think of Amazon. This company operates over 100,000 robots on its various factory floors. Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) pick, sort, and transport orders; robotic arms pack items; and autonomous ground vehicles navigate the huge warehouses.

However, on the global stage, Amazon is somewhat of a bit player. FoxConn, a Chinese electronics manufacturer, currently has over 300,000 robots in use for assembling its products. These robots help create phones, computers, tablets, and gaming consoles for companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Samsung.

But the electronics industry was not the first to integrate robots into the workplace: the automotive industry was. It took a chance on and then popularized the first industrial robot: Unimate.

Unimate was the creation of Joseph Engelberger, whom many call the father of robotics. Inspired by Isaac Asimov and his vision of robot helpers, Engelberger strove to create robots that would improve manufacturing while making workers’ lives easier.

In 1959, General Motors installed the first prototype of Unimate #001 in its Trenton, New Jersey plant. Weighing a whopping 2700 pounds, this robot’s primary job was diecasting.

The Original Unimate: an industrial robot.
The Original Unimate.

And only a decade later, GM’s rebuilt factory in Lordstown, Ohio, housed an army of spot-welding robots. These robots could build 110 cars an hour, which was double the manufacturing rate at that time.

Choosing the Right Robots for the Job (or Jobs)

An automated machine that does just one thing is not a robot. It is simply automation. A robot should have the capability of handling a range of jobs at a factory.

Joseph Engelberger

Perhaps Engelberger’s dream is best satisfied by articulated robots, equipped for several jobs. With their flexibility, dexterity, and reach, these robots are adept at assembling, packaging, palletizing, welding, and more. Palletizing robots perhaps perform one of the most annoying and dangerous of tasks in a warehouse environment: stacking stuff. These hefty robotic arms spend all day neatly piling items onto pallets.

Other common robots include SCARA (Selective Compliance Articulated Robot Arm). SCARAs perform actions between two parallel planes or assemble vertical products. Delta (spider robots) excel at high-speed actions involving light loads.

And then there are Cartesian robots, or gantry robots. They “have an overhead structure that controls the motion in the horizontal plane and a robotic arm that actuates motion vertically. They can be designed to move in x-y axes or x-y-z axes. The robotic arm is placed on the scaffolding and can be moved in the horizontal plane.” It also has an effector or machine tool attached to its arm, depending on its function. This article goes into greater detail about the four types of robots that manufacturers should know and use.

The automotive industry (as does much of manufacturing) uses robots to spot-weld, pick, paint, and palletize–boring, yet dangerous jobs. Jeff Moore, Volvo’s vice president of manufacturing in the Americas, says that welding, “with all the heat and sparks and high current and things is a natural spot to be looking at where you can more heavily automate.” However, for intricate work on the assembly line, such as attaching hoods, bumpers, and fenders, “the human touch has a lot of advantages.”

Integrating Robots and Automation

But these metal workers do not just assemble cars and create heavy-duty products. Robots and automation also assist in other industries, such as in agriculture and food production.

Helping With Agriculture and Food Production

In agriculture, for instance, robots may plant, harvest, spray crops, control weeds, analyze soil, and monitor crops. And when it comes to agricultural equipment, some of the biggest players are John Deere, AGCO, CNH Industrial, and Kubota. These companies are also investing in robotics and automation; as well as tractors, drones, and data analytics to improve efficiency and crop yield and to reduce costs. Recently, for instance, Trimble and Horsch collaborated to build an autonomous sprayer.

And in food production, robots might slice, package, and label products at a much more rapid rate than humans. For instance, the global food production and processing company Cargill heavily uses robotic automation. It invented the first robotic cattle herder. Cargill and Tyson Foods, in fact, are also moving heavily into automation and cobots for meat production.

Lucy and Ethel working on an assembly line at a chocolate factory.

In one of the more famous and humorous episodes of I Love Lucy, Lucy and Ethel get employment at a candy factory. Their job: keeping up with increasing production and quickly wrapping candy as it rolls down the belt. They fail miserably as the line picks up, shoving candy in their mouths, their pockets, and even their dresses. Well, thanks to robots, inadequately trained (and slower than ideal) humans will no longer have to keep pace by eating the profits. Their tasks might be made easier by cobots.

Recently, “cobots” or modular, agile, collaborative robots have been the focus of robot manufacturers. Rather than replace workers, cobots work alongside their human employees. Armed with sensors and sophisticated feedback equipment, cobots respond to changes in the workflow and help their human partners perform tasks accurately and safely. Some experts predict that the cobot market (currently valued at $1.1 billion) will expand to $9.2 million by 2028).

Performing Tedious and Dangerous Tasks

Robots can also complete tasks that are too tedious for humans, such as inspecting pipelines or sorting items. Additionally, they can monitor and analyze data in real time, allowing workers to make better informed decisions. In the oil and gas industry, for instance, robots inspect pipelines and inspect wells.

And it is not just repetitive and boring tasks, either. That is, another argument in favor of robots in the workplace is that they can perform hazardous tasks, such as working in extreme temperatures and dangerous environments; and cleaning up harmful materials.

One of of the most recently developed robots who might be fit for these tasks is MARVEL, appropriately named because of its superhero abilities. MARVEL is an acronym for Magnetically Adhesive Robot for Versatile and Expeditious Locomotion.

The brainchild of a research team from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), this robot is equipped with magnetic foot pads that can be turned on or off.

Researchers and MARVEL at KAIST

With these specialized feet, MARVEL can rapidly climb steel walls and ceilings, at speeds of 50 cm to 70 cm a second. Its design and speed make it appropriate for several tricky tasks requiring nimbleness, such as performing inspections and maintenance on high structures (bridges, buildings, ships, and transmission towers.)

Imagine, for a second, MARVEL safely performing maintenance on the Houghton lift bridge while it is still operational. No need to block off one lane and slow down the flow of traffic. No need to be late for work!

Taking Our Jobs? Maybe.

We are approaching a time when machines will be able to outperform humans at almost any task. I believe that society needs to confront this question before it is upon us: if machines are capable of doing almost any work humans can do, what will humans do?

Moshe Vardi

One of the most obvious downsides to incorporating robots in the workplace is that they will lead to job losses. That is, some experts estimate that as many as 20 million job losses will result as companies continue to rely on automation.

Critiquing Robots and Automation

Futurist and New York Times best-selling author Martin Ford has probably been the most vocal about the negative economic and social impacts of automation and robotics.

He has written Rule of the Robots: How Artificial Intelligence will Transform Everything (2021), Architects of Intelligence: The Truth About AI and the People Building it (2018), and Rise of the Robots: Technology and the Threat of a Jobless Future (2015).

Ford has argued that automation and robotics will result in job losses, wage stagnation, and widening inequality. These effects, which will be felt most acutely by low-skilled and middle-skilled workers, will also weaken worker bargaining power.

Cover of Martin Ford's book "The Rise of the Robots"

Alleviating These Problems

But there are solutions. That is, Ford has advocated that governments should prepare for and then take steps to address the issues posed by robotics and automation. Governing bodies could provide better access to education and new job training, invest in infrastructure, promote job-sharing, and provide more generous unemployment benefits.

To alleviate inequities caused by increasing automation, Ford has urged governments to create tax incentives that encourage employers to hire people and train them in the use of robots; or for companies to invest in robots designed to complement rather than replace human workers (such as cobots). He has also supported a basic monthly income for citizens so that everyone has a decent standard of living. How will this monthly income be funded? By taxing companies that use robots, or taxing the robots themselves to generate this income.

MIT professors Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee, who wrote The Second Machine Age: Work, Progress, and Prosperity in a Time of Brilliant Technologies, also summarized the second machine age and evaluated in terms of its positive benefits (“bounty”) and increasing inequality (“spread”). After stating that the spread of technology is causing greater inequality, they proposed some similar policy interventions.

Defending Robots in the Workplace

Critics of Ford, McAfee, and Brynjolfsson, such as economists Lawrence Summers and Robert Gordon, and industry expert Jeff Bezos, take a contradictory perspective. They argue that robots and automation will create more jobs than they destroy. These technologies, they contend, will also lead to advanced productivity and efficiency, improved demands for goods and services, and, therefore, increased employment. Robots can also help reduce costs, which could lead to increased profits for companies and more jobs overall.

Summers takes a slightly different stand, affirming that robots could increase production and therefore benefit the economy and improve employment. However, governments should still invest in education and job training to ensure that workers have the skills needed to take advantage of the opportunities created by both automation and robotics.

Futurists at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) have sung the praises of robots and automation for years. Their experts content that robots and automation will enhance productivity and reshape global supply chains. New production systems, they claim, will bring more (not less) manufacturing work to the United States.

And then there are the numbers, which currently don’t look that fearful. According to the International Federation of Robotics, in the United States, there were only 255 robotic units per 10,000 employees. Although 47% of CEOs are investing in robots (according to a poll by Forbes, Xometry, and Zogby), robots still only have a 2% presence in industry.

Whatever the industry, it is obvious that robots can increase both efficiency and safety. They can work 24/7. They won’t tire during a 16-hour shift, get repetitive stress injuries, or have fatigue-related workplace accidents. Robots can also increase output capacity by helping American manufacturers save on utilities and worker resources, so that they can compete more effectively with offshore companies.

Preparing for an Automated and Robotic Future

Robotic arm in a lab at Michigan Tech.

This blog has just scratched the surface of robots in the workplace. That is, it didn’t discuss robotic doctors, such as the impressive Davinci Surgical System. Also, the writer doesn’t pretend to be an expert here, just an ex Sci-Fi teacher fascinated with the robotic present and future.

Those who want to prepare for a future in robotics and automation can learn more by taking several educational paths at Michigan Tech. MTU offers major and minor degrees in computer engineering, data acquisition and industrial control, electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering, and robotics engineering.

More specifically, there is mechatronics: a field of engineering that combines mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering to create systems that can interact with the physical world. Mechatronic systems consist of sensors, actuators, and control systems. These systems are fundamental to creating robots and other automated systems. Students in this program can also join the Robotics Systems Enterprise “to solve real-world engineering problems.”

Through Global Campus, Michigan Tech also offers several related online graduate certificates in artificial intelligence in healthcare, manufacturing engineering, the safety and security of autonomous cyber-physical systems, and security and privacy in healthcare. It also offers an Online Foundations of Cybersecurity Certificate.

And if you’re interesting in earning an online master’s degree, please check out our MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering or our online Mechanical Engineering programs, both MS and PhD.

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