Disadvantages

Many argue that by removing the workers from the factories in as great numbers leaves many without jobs. There is no doubt that there are far fewer manufacturing jobs and packaging jobs than there were compared to pre-automation.

However, those in favour of automation argue that most of the jobs that have been taken over by robots and computers were menial, repetitive and boring as well as in some cases dangerous, and that people can now have more fulfilling jobs by choosing to do different things. They also argue that the increase in productivity (automated factories are able to produce all day long and all year long) means the companies make more money and so can employ more staff in other areas. Others counter this by saying that the amount of money needed to set up an automated factory make it impossible for small businesses and that they then can't compete using human labour with large corporations using automated processes.

It is a very debatable issue and one that has good points on either side. The only thing that is certain is that factories, labs, offices and warehouses today are very different places than they were only a few years ago – whether that is a good thing or not is up to you to decide!