Wait a minute here, did we read it correctly? Are robots on the assembly line actually being replaced by humans? This is definitely a reversal of roles, as we have read more and more about how robots are replacing humans in various tasks and jobs, including bricklayers and scaring off pigeons, although a museum guide would still be better done by a human. We have heard that humans do better at a Mercedes-Benz assembly plant, which is why robots there are being replaced by good, old-fashion men and women like you and I.
While we humans might not be able to solve a Rubik’s Cube in less than a second, it seems that the assembly of the new S-Class from Mercedes is so complicated that normal automotive assembly robots are simply overwhelmed. Hence, the installation of heated and cooled cupholders, up to a quartet of various kinds of tire valve stem caps are pretty much better off with human workers at the helm.
Mercedes’ head of production Markus Schaefer shared, “Robots can’t deal with the degree of individualization and the many variants that we have today. We’re saving money and safeguarding our future by employing more people.”
Do bear in mind that this is just happening at Mercedes’ Sindelfingen, Germany, plant, and it is not an overall representation of the industry, since machines are still great at mundane and repetitive jobs such as welding, painting and engine installation.