Automation vs Human Labor

by Ronel Forbes

November 11, 2021

Automation and Human Labor in Construction

These days, it’s difficult to find a construction site that isn’t using some form of automation. Contractors are employing drones to speed up site inspections, project owners are using 3D printers to speed up skyscraper turnover, and even subcontractors are relying on remote-controlled robots and heavy equipment to do larger tasks.

At the construction site, technology is introducing so much that it is making practically every activity easier and faster. While this is beneficial to contractors because of the low operating and maintenance costs associated with automation, it also raises concerns among human laborers that their services may be obsolete in the future.

But it’s not just the crew members’ positions that are jeopardized. The use of robots and automated equipment to replace manpower implies that foremen and assistant project managers are no longer required. When there is no longer a team to manage, they will be obsolete.

When it comes to automation in the construction business, though, resistance isn’t the best approach. Rather than focusing on the prospect of being replaced, workers should be educated on the advantages of adopting technology in the workplace.

Laborers’ work can be made smarter, faster, and more accurate using automation. And, in case you didn’t know, automation can expand job prospects on the building site by requiring more operators, technicians, mechanics, and maintenance workers to operate the automated machines.

Machines will never be able to take the position of construction laborers

Robots and digital technology will be unable to do some tasks. One is hanging on a rope to attach snaps for the pipes, and the other is making decisions. And if that isn’t enough proof, consider the current labor scarcity in the construction industry.

Construction isn’t a field where automation can completely replace human labor. While technology has changed construction projects, cutting turnaround times by nearly half, these systems still require a qualified worker to operate. Furthermore, human engagement is still required for problem-solving, planning, scheduling, and project design.

As a result, the site’s integration of human labor and technology will result in a higher success rate and profitability.

The Impact of Automation on Construction Recruitment

The construction industry is now experiencing a labor shortage. When the construction sector attempts to hire the millennial age group, which can work longer for the contractors and may be stronger, the largest age cohort engaged in the business remains older workers.

This workforce is tech-savvy and eager to learn about the latest revolution trends. They don’t want to develop talents that need them to labor in a manual manner.

They are on the lookout for training and opportunity to acquire new techniques. As a result, automation can attract younger workers, and when these Millennials see that they can feel at ease on a building site, the gap can be filled.

Furthermore, fostering a tech-friendly environment through the use of productivity software, artificial intelligence (AI), applications, gadgets, and robotics, among other things, will nurture a new generation of construction workers who may be more productive than previous generations.

In the construction industry, both humans and machines are employed

Contractors should discover a method to combine human work and automated equipment to achieve the best of both worlds. Human workers should be taught how to use equipment and technology so that they can get the most out of them.

Making personnel proficient in the use of 3D printers, remote-controlled cranes, and other heavy machinery would make the job go more smoothly. Information will go more quickly if they are trained on how to use construction management software. Artificial intelligence (AI) on the construction site can help with decision-making.

These pairings demonstrate that machines do not take the role of people. They’re just instruments for boosting efficiency and production by up to five times.

So, by incorporating both into your construction project, you’ll be able to meet your tight deadlines while also remaining competitive in the overcrowded construction business.

The Role of Automation in Increasing Productivity

While we mentioned that automation is a wonderful method to get the younger generation to apply for construction jobs, the benefits of automation go well beyond that, and the results are more immediate.

First, we discussed how automation speeds up operations and, as a result, reduces project turnaround time. Many of the labor-intensive, time-consuming operations in construction, such as monitoring and submittals, have been replaced by technology.

These two critical tasks can now be completed with just one piece of construction project management software. Not only does it cut the time it takes to do these chores in half, but it also saves over 30% on the cost of doing so.

Reducing the time spent on a task from weeks to minutes frees up your time and those of your employees to work on other projects. As a result, the money spent on payroll, which accounts for a significant portion of the construction project, will be reduced.

Bottomline

At the construction site, more automation needs to be designed and implemented. As previously stated, technology does not necessarily replace human labor, but it does act as a tool to help individuals be more efficient and productive at work.

Finding new skilled personnel is becoming increasingly difficult. Most construction sites’ remaining competent workers are now getting older, but millennials prefer to work in offices rather than in blue-collar occupations. If this trend continues, the construction industry will face an even greater labor shortage, preventing it from constructing, renovating, or repairing structures.

However, with the advent of automation, this age group will be enticed to work in the construction industry. Companies will experience greater and faster benefits and the industry will meet the expanding needs of a commercial building with stronger and more innovative workers handling automation on the construction site.

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