http://www.news24.com/News24/T...3-1443_1643740,00.html
Toyota to employ robots
06/01/2005 08:12 - (SA)
Tokyo - Toyota Motor will introduce robots which can work as well or better than humans at all 12 of its factories in Japan to cut costs and deal with a looming labour shortage as the country ages, a report said on Thursday.
The robots would be able to carry out multiple tasks simultaneously with their two arms, achieving efficiency unseen in human workers and matching the cheap wages of Chinese labourers, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun said.
Japan's top automaker currently uses 3 000 to 4 000 less advanced robots at its domestic factories but their use has been confined mostly to welding, painting and other potentially hazardous tasks, the economic daily said.
The new robots would also be used in finishing work, such as installation of seats and car interior fixtures, that have been too complex for conventional robots up to now, the daily said.
Toyota plans to become the first in the automobile industry to use the advanced robots in all production processes in the future, it said without giving the timeframe.
"We aim to reduce production costs to the levels in China," the daily quoted an unnamed company official as saying.
Toyota also took into account the looming labour shortage in Japan due to a declining birthrate, the report said.
Japan's population is forecast to peak by 2006 with the average number of children a woman has during her lifetime standing at a post-World War II low of 1.29, according to the latest government data.
Japan has so far rejected calls to open up to large numbers of unskilled immigrants, fearing the effects on the country's social framework.
Toyota has been increasingly turning to robot development and plans to welcome visitors to its pavillion at the World Expo in Japan in March with humanoid robots jamming in a brass ensemble and performing hip-hop.
=======================
Toyota stresses commitment to humans after robot report
By Osamu Tsukimori
Last Updated: 1/6/2005 3:43:21 AM
http://www.investors.com/break...lid=24853531&brk=1
TOKYO (CBS.MW) - Toyota Motor Corp. stressed its commitment to employ and develop human workers, after Japan's leading business daily reported the automaker aims to introduce advanced robots at all 12 of its domestic factories.
Toyota plans to become the first in the industry to use the advanced robots in all production processes, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported Thursday.
The newspaper said the move is aimed at improving production efficiency as the automaker foresees anticipated labor shortages in Japan due to the country's declining birthrate.
A Toyota spokesman acknowledged that several dozen of the advanced robots, capable of moving parts and carrying out multiple tasks simultaneously with two arms, have already been introduced at Toyota's Motomachi plant in Japan.
But the spokesman for Japan's leading automaker emphasized that its basic philosophy remains unchanged, and that humans would continue play a dominant role in its auto production.
The spokesman added that the company would continue to explore for ways to raise employees' willingness to work through "kaizen", or continuous improvement efforts - a concept presumably beyond the grasp of mechanical workers.
The report quoted an unnamed Toyota executive as saying that the automaker aims to cut production costs to levels comparable to those in China, partly through the use of advanced robots. Toyota is expected to increase the number of such robots to 1,000 at its domestic plants, the report said.
Japan's largest automaker now uses 3,000 to 4,000 conventional industrial robots at its domestic plants, but their use has been confined mostly to welding, painting and other potentially hazardous tasks, the Nikkei reported.
The new robots, developed with Yaskawa Electric Corp. (65066506), handle multiple tasks simultaneously with two arms and achieve production efficiencies equal to or better than human workers, the report said.
Toyota also plans to encourage its overseas factories and group companies to use the advanced robots, the report added.
Toyota aims to expand the use of robots by developing parts that are easier for robots to install, improving robot control technology, and using the advanced new robots in finishing work alongside factory employees, the report said.
Shares of Toyota (72037203)(TM) ended up 1 percent in Tokyo. The Nikkei Average rose 0.5 percent.
=====================
http://www.fool.com/News/mft/2005/mft05010611.htm
Rise of the Machines at Toyota
By Rich Smith
January 6, 2005
"Humans are weak," declared CEO-san. "They must be replaced with something stronger, more efficient, something... that doesn't ask for overtime pay."
One imagines a conversation such as this one preceded Toyota's (NYSE: TM) decision to increase massively the number of "advanced robots" that will take over the jobs of mere mortals at all five of Toyota's Japanese factories. According to a report published in Nihon Keizai Shimbun yesterday, and CBS Marketwatch earlier today, Toyota has been troubled in recent years. Troubled by thoughts of Japan's declining working-age population and troubled by the worry common to so many Western nations recently -- the threat of low-cost labor posed by China.
Back in June, fellow Fool Seth Jayson described how all the major automakers have essentially adopted an "if you can't beat 'em, outsource to 'em" strategy in response to the Chinese threat. Every big name in the auto-making world, it seems, is already making cars in-country there, including the Big Threes of both the U.S. and Japan. In the U.S., that's General Motors (NYSE: GM), Ford (NYSE: F), and DaimlerChrysler (NYSE: DCX); in Japan it's Toyota, Honda (NYSE: HMC), and Nissan (Nasdaq: NSANY). But having already successfully joined the Chinese labor-rush, Toyota is now going to take another shot at "beating 'em."
Already a big user of low-tech robots as replacements for humans working in hazardous conditions, welding parts and wheezing in paint fume-filled rooms, Toyota will attempt to push its labor costs down to Chinese levels by using new, advanced robots to decrease the number of workers who, well, ask for salaries.
As a first step, the company has already introduced several dozen advanced robots -- capable of doing most assembly tasks that humans can do -- in its Motomachi, Japan, plant. Assuming that pilot project works out well, Toyota hopes to ramp up to about 1,000 robots in Japan, and then begin extending the program to its foreign plants.
So, now we have machines that are pretty much capable of taking over the business of making other machines. It seems that all we have to do now is get them each an American Express (NYSE: AXP) card and teach them how to max it out, and we can take humans completely out of the loop. It shouldn't be too hard. In fact, I'll bet the cards are already in the mail -- preapproved.
Read all about Toyota's other high-tech automotive coup in:
Toyota Under Porsche's Hood?
Toyota for President
Toyota: Resistance Is Futile
Toyota Versus Bill Gates
Toyota to employ robots
06/01/2005 08:12 - (SA)
Tokyo - Toyota Motor will introduce robots which can work as well or better than humans at all 12 of its factories in Japan to cut costs and deal with a looming labour shortage as the country ages, a report said on Thursday.
The robots would be able to carry out multiple tasks simultaneously with their two arms, achieving efficiency unseen in human workers and matching the cheap wages of Chinese labourers, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun said.
Japan's top automaker currently uses 3 000 to 4 000 less advanced robots at its domestic factories but their use has been confined mostly to welding, painting and other potentially hazardous tasks, the economic daily said.
The new robots would also be used in finishing work, such as installation of seats and car interior fixtures, that have been too complex for conventional robots up to now, the daily said.
Toyota plans to become the first in the automobile industry to use the advanced robots in all production processes in the future, it said without giving the timeframe.
"We aim to reduce production costs to the levels in China," the daily quoted an unnamed company official as saying.
Toyota also took into account the looming labour shortage in Japan due to a declining birthrate, the report said.
Japan's population is forecast to peak by 2006 with the average number of children a woman has during her lifetime standing at a post-World War II low of 1.29, according to the latest government data.
Japan has so far rejected calls to open up to large numbers of unskilled immigrants, fearing the effects on the country's social framework.
Toyota has been increasingly turning to robot development and plans to welcome visitors to its pavillion at the World Expo in Japan in March with humanoid robots jamming in a brass ensemble and performing hip-hop.
=======================
Toyota stresses commitment to humans after robot report
By Osamu Tsukimori
Last Updated: 1/6/2005 3:43:21 AM
http://www.investors.com/break...lid=24853531&brk=1
TOKYO (CBS.MW) - Toyota Motor Corp. stressed its commitment to employ and develop human workers, after Japan's leading business daily reported the automaker aims to introduce advanced robots at all 12 of its domestic factories.
Toyota plans to become the first in the industry to use the advanced robots in all production processes, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported Thursday.
The newspaper said the move is aimed at improving production efficiency as the automaker foresees anticipated labor shortages in Japan due to the country's declining birthrate.
A Toyota spokesman acknowledged that several dozen of the advanced robots, capable of moving parts and carrying out multiple tasks simultaneously with two arms, have already been introduced at Toyota's Motomachi plant in Japan.
But the spokesman for Japan's leading automaker emphasized that its basic philosophy remains unchanged, and that humans would continue play a dominant role in its auto production.
The spokesman added that the company would continue to explore for ways to raise employees' willingness to work through "kaizen", or continuous improvement efforts - a concept presumably beyond the grasp of mechanical workers.
The report quoted an unnamed Toyota executive as saying that the automaker aims to cut production costs to levels comparable to those in China, partly through the use of advanced robots. Toyota is expected to increase the number of such robots to 1,000 at its domestic plants, the report said.
Japan's largest automaker now uses 3,000 to 4,000 conventional industrial robots at its domestic plants, but their use has been confined mostly to welding, painting and other potentially hazardous tasks, the Nikkei reported.
The new robots, developed with Yaskawa Electric Corp. (65066506), handle multiple tasks simultaneously with two arms and achieve production efficiencies equal to or better than human workers, the report said.
Toyota also plans to encourage its overseas factories and group companies to use the advanced robots, the report added.
Toyota aims to expand the use of robots by developing parts that are easier for robots to install, improving robot control technology, and using the advanced new robots in finishing work alongside factory employees, the report said.
Shares of Toyota (72037203)(TM) ended up 1 percent in Tokyo. The Nikkei Average rose 0.5 percent.
=====================
http://www.fool.com/News/mft/2005/mft05010611.htm
Rise of the Machines at Toyota
By Rich Smith
January 6, 2005
"Humans are weak," declared CEO-san. "They must be replaced with something stronger, more efficient, something... that doesn't ask for overtime pay."
One imagines a conversation such as this one preceded Toyota's (NYSE: TM) decision to increase massively the number of "advanced robots" that will take over the jobs of mere mortals at all five of Toyota's Japanese factories. According to a report published in Nihon Keizai Shimbun yesterday, and CBS Marketwatch earlier today, Toyota has been troubled in recent years. Troubled by thoughts of Japan's declining working-age population and troubled by the worry common to so many Western nations recently -- the threat of low-cost labor posed by China.
Back in June, fellow Fool Seth Jayson described how all the major automakers have essentially adopted an "if you can't beat 'em, outsource to 'em" strategy in response to the Chinese threat. Every big name in the auto-making world, it seems, is already making cars in-country there, including the Big Threes of both the U.S. and Japan. In the U.S., that's General Motors (NYSE: GM), Ford (NYSE: F), and DaimlerChrysler (NYSE: DCX); in Japan it's Toyota, Honda (NYSE: HMC), and Nissan (Nasdaq: NSANY). But having already successfully joined the Chinese labor-rush, Toyota is now going to take another shot at "beating 'em."
Already a big user of low-tech robots as replacements for humans working in hazardous conditions, welding parts and wheezing in paint fume-filled rooms, Toyota will attempt to push its labor costs down to Chinese levels by using new, advanced robots to decrease the number of workers who, well, ask for salaries.
As a first step, the company has already introduced several dozen advanced robots -- capable of doing most assembly tasks that humans can do -- in its Motomachi, Japan, plant. Assuming that pilot project works out well, Toyota hopes to ramp up to about 1,000 robots in Japan, and then begin extending the program to its foreign plants.
So, now we have machines that are pretty much capable of taking over the business of making other machines. It seems that all we have to do now is get them each an American Express (NYSE: AXP) card and teach them how to max it out, and we can take humans completely out of the loop. It shouldn't be too hard. In fact, I'll bet the cards are already in the mail -- preapproved.
Read all about Toyota's other high-tech automotive coup in:
Toyota Under Porsche's Hood?
Toyota for President
Toyota: Resistance Is Futile
Toyota Versus Bill Gates