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In Dongguan City, located in the central Guangdong province of China, a technology company has set up a factory run almost exclusively by robots, and the results are fascinating.
The Changying Precision Technology Company factory in Dongguan has automated production lines that use robotic arms to produce parts for cell phones. The factory also has automated machining equipment, autonomous transport trucks, and other automated equipment in the warehouse.
There are still people working at the factory, though. Three workers check and monitor each production line and there are other employees who monitor a computer control system. Previously, there were 650 employees at the factory. With the new robots, there's now only 60. Luo Weiqiang, general manager of the company, told the People's Daily that the number of employees could drop to 20 in the future.
The robots have produced almost three times as many pieces as were produced before. According to the People's Daily, production per person has increased from 8,000 pieces to 21,000 pieces. That's a 162.5% increase.
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The growth of robotics in the area's factories comes amidst a particularly harsh climate around factory worker conditions, highlighted by strikes in the area. One can only wonder whether automation will add fuel to the fire or quell some of the unrest.
Is eliminating the work force the best way to solve labor unrest?
(Score: 2) by Nuke on Monday August 03 2015, @09:48AM
Open pits were used in the early days, but later it was much better engineered than that. Coal was not used, not later at least.
The heat from burning one batch was used to pre-heat the next batch. That melted the fat out of it which was run down to burn in the furnace. These furnaces still exist at Auchwitz in a museum role, I understand. Can't help thinking that all this technology, learning from the Holocaust, will be put to use again one day when expanding populations start fighting each other for dwindling space and resources. There are genocidal views already among Muslim extremists. Hitler ( and the Kaiser before him, [telegraph.co.uk] who actually declared a Jihad) had significant empathy with Muslims.
Sorry to sail close to Godwin, but it is seriously relevent here, and it wasn't me who brought him into it.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 03 2015, @01:20PM
Entire stories can be made up, complete with details. Then one must wonder why the obviously efficient techniques developed were never used again. There have been a number of disease outbreaks in animals: Foot and mouth disease etc and these already perfected efficient techniques were never used, where one body provides the fuel to burn the next body.
http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00Man/VeterinaryTechniques/FMDVetIndTech/FMDCarcass_Burn_Technique.htm [twycrosszoo.org]
It mentions (among other things), two days are necessary to complete burning of the carcasses.
And for incineration of the animal carcass: One piece of heavy timber, 203 KG coal per carcass, ....
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Monday August 03 2015, @01:58PM
Hitler used dedicated structures for the purpose. He shipped the victims to the structures. Farmers and ranchers don't have these dedicated structures, specially engineered for the disposal of carcasses. The comparison is rather silly, IMHO. A wood bonfire, laid on open ground, is never going to get as hot as a coke fire in a well engineered blast furnace. Never. Yes, it takes two days to burn a cow carcass. And, you're still left with the heaviest bones to dispose of.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 03 2015, @02:32PM
Even a replica of the original structures has not been made or used. I'm sure that during the last 80 years someone would have developed a furnace on similar principles if it really was real, but no. It only ever existed on paper, where it will always remain.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 03 2015, @03:35PM
Maybe the need for replicating it didn't arise?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 03 2015, @08:00PM
I'm sure that during the last 80 years someone would have developed a furnace on similar principles if it really was real, but no.
Probably because the general public and law enforcement frown at the idea of heating your home with people.