Quote:
Originally Posted by kdbolt70
You're right. Technology is intangible. Software cannot be eaten, it can't keep you warm, and it can't keep you out of the rain. But it does provide a means to produce those things much easier, and much more efficiently.
I guess I'm a somewhat of an anomaly when it comes to the discussion of software vs manufacturing, as I directly worth with both. I write software that controls plant machinery, like barcode scanners and robots and RFID antennas, etc. So I feel that everything can be effected by advances in technology. The use of software can greatly improve the product, as well as make it cheaper. I guess industrial giants need the advances in technology to remain profitable, and the same can be said for the reverse.
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However, look at what we have: A robotic line doing what used to be the work of 20 people. Times how many robotic lines ? Understand one thing though
IMO if the wage (inc benefits and retirement) wasn't killing the automakers, they would never have invested the money in the robots. They aren't free BUT when compared to $78 per hour for the average UAW employee (just read that somewhere else here) it doesn't take too long relatively speaking to pay off millions of dollars of robotic investment.