SoftBank's human-like robot named "Pepper" performs to welcome as a concierge at an entrance of Mizuho Financial Group's Mizuho bank branch in Tokyo, Japan, July 17, 2015. Pepper starts working as a concierge of the bank to welcome customers.

SoftBank's human-like robot named "Pepper" performs to welcome as a concierge at an entrance of Mizuho Financial Group's Mizuho bank branch in Tokyo, Japan, July 17, 2015. Pepper starts working as a concierge of the bank to welcome customers. Reuters/Yuya Shino

China’s robot revolution has increased the number of robots in factories, leading to extensive decrease in the number of manual labour.

China has believed in manpower for decades and employed workers from the countryside to work in numerous factories that manufacture toys, electronics and clothing. This has helped China become an economically strong nation of the world.

But with the increasing cost of manufacturing and shrinking number of young workers, China has decided to replace its manual labour with automated machines. This way, the nation would not have to deal with the rising wage issues and other difficulties that shift the factories’ focus from effective manufacturing.

At the time when China is suffering from rising cost of manufacturing and diminishing profitability, the manufacturers “will all need to face the fact that only by successfully transitioning from the current labour-oriented mode to more automated manufacturing will they be able to survive in the next few years,” said Shanghai’s IHS Technology’s automation expert Jan Zhang told the Associated Press .

In 2010, Shenzhen Rapoo Technology Co. installed 80 robots made by ABB Ltd., Sweden to assemble computer mice and keyboards. “What we are doing here is a revolution,” Rapoo’s Deputy General Manager Pboll Deng said, addressing Chinese manufacturing. Compared to human counterparts, the robots helped the company save US$1.6 million (AU$2.3 million) per year and cut the workforce from over 3,000 to less than 1,000 in 2010.

President Xi Jinping, in his speech in 2014, stressed upon robot revolution, indicating the role of automation in enhancing productivity. Contributing to the initiative, the authorities have offered subsidies and tax incentives over the past three years to ensure industrial automation and simultaneous development of robotics industry across the nation.

The increasing automation in Chinese factories is feared to threaten people with significant job loss. But what Deng said is that they are providing a robot platform where both automation and human efforts will lead to efficient and flexible production.

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