OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES of Welding Automation in High-Mix Low-Volume Manufacturing Operations

摘要

Economic Considerations for Manufacturers in a Global Economy - the Alberta Example. During the "boom time" of approximately 5-to-10 years ago, Alberta was in the midst of the "strongest period of economic growth ever recorded by any province in Canada's history" [1]. The drawback was the resulting shortage of skilled-labour, projected to be between 100,000 to 400,000 workers by 2010-2015 if that type of escalated growth continued [2,3 ]. That economic period also highlighted that, in addition to skilled labor shortages, the productivity in the metal fabrication and construction industry needed to be substantially improved. In more recent years, due to global economic events and underlying uncertainty, capital projects have been postponed and the feasibility reassessed (especially in the oil sands). Capital projects have recently been re-launched and future projects are expected with an increased emphasis on reducing costs and maximizing productivity. According to recent estimates, there are some ～830 major projects in Alberta worth ～$200 billion that are planned, underway, or have recently been completed [4]. However, if the projects with no definite schedule or on-hold are omitted, then the number drops to ～420 projects worth ～$85.5 billion, which provides an indication of the relative uncertainty that still exists [5]. Manufacturers and fabricators are integral aspects of these major projects. Hence, firms must continually strive to improve their productivity and competitiveness in the global market, and must ensure that the investments provide the appropriate return for an enticing but uncertain market future.