robots

Robots Flippy, Sippy, and Chippy Used in Fast Food Kitchens

The use of robots in restaurants continues to expand.

For example, Flippy the robot has been around since 2018, flipping burgers. It even worked at Dodger Stadium. Since Flippy’s introduction, improvements to Flippy have been made. Flippy 2.0 has expanded from making burgers to operating fry stations. White Castle plans to install over 100 robot cooks in its kitchens.

Flippy is also used by Wing Stop for the last step in the wing making process. Chippy, an iteration of Flippy, makes chips […]

By Ross L. Fink, Ph.D.|2024-02-18T23:13:35+00:00February 23, 2024|Tags: automation, capacity management, fast casual restaurants, labor shortage, quick serve restaurants, robots|

Do Manufacturing Workers Benefit from Automation?

Advanced manufacturing technologies promise better jobs. Is it time to rejoice?

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is upon us, and it will transform work as we know it. This article delves into the benefits that automation could bring to deskless workers: safer jobs, higher pay, more opportunities for advancement, and so on. It is undeniable that automated technologies and artificial intelligence have the potential to enrich manufacturing jobs. However, their implementation will determine how workers are actually impacted.

Video Spotlight:

By Corinne M. Karuppan, Ph.D.|2023-05-12T03:13:01+00:00May 12, 2023|Tags: automation, carbon footprint, flexible-manufacturing, job design, productivity, respsonsive supply chain design, robots, sustainability, work force scheduling|

AI and OM: A Complicated Relationship

AI has ushered in a new era of possibilities.

Once confined to complex, industrial applications, AI is now becoming part of our everyday activities. Recent advances in AI-generated art and text have created many possibilities. Although the technology cannot fully replace humans yet, improvements are so rapid that we can expect a dramatic transformation of work in the near future. The challenge for organizations will be to harness AI’s capabilities while countering its negative, unintended consequences.

This post is intended to help […]

By Corinne M. Karuppan, Ph.D.|2023-04-15T22:25:12+00:00April 16, 2023|Tags: artificial intelligence, automation, bill of materials, ERP systems, job design, product design, productivity, robots, security|

The Auto Industry Courts Laid-Off Tech Workers

Tech workers are needed now to help build the cars of the future.

The layoffs by Google, Meta, Amazon, and other tech giants have been a boon for the auto industry. Indeed, a variety of software skills are required to develop new concepts and build tomorrow’s cars. Because auto makers’ recruiting efforts face some stiff competition from other sectors, they are creating an attractive workplace for techies.

Video Spotlight: The Future of Driving? | Coding the Car | […]

By Corinne M. Karuppan, Ph.D.|2023-02-02T23:05:38+00:00February 12, 2023|Tags: automation, competitivness, flexible-manufacturing, job design, product design, productivity, robots, technology|