The Dutch manufacturing industry could vanish if it doesn’t embrace robots and automation, according to a new report from the research institute TNO. The sector is currently struggling with an ageing workforce, a lack of staff, and high wages. To combat this, TNO is calling for a national “robotisation agenda” to be launched on Friday.
Manufacturing is a vital part of the Dutch economy, making up about 7 percent of its total wealth. However, growth has stalled lately. TNO warns that if things don’t change, production costs will soar within two years. Over the next decade, Dutch companies could lose out to international rivals, leading to factory closures and a greater reliance on foreign goods.
Experts argue that using more robots is the only way to stay competitive. Mark Courage from TNO says that automation is no longer a luxury but a necessity if the Netherlands wants to remain a producer rather than just a consumer. Beyond saving money, robots can also help improve the quality of the products being made.
Currently, the Netherlands is falling behind other countries. It has 264 robots for every 10,000 employees, putting it in twelfth place globally. This is much lower than countries like South Korea, China, and Germany, which use between 400 and 1,000 robots for the same number of workers. TNO believes the Netherlands must act now to catch up.
@anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
