The Association for Advancing Automation (A3), the umbrella group for Robotic Industries Association (RIA), AIA – Advancing Vision + Imaging, Motion Control & Motor Association (MCMA) and A3 Mexico, recently surveyed its members on the impact from COVID-19.

The 16-question survey asked respondents to consider various aspects of their business during this novel coronavirus pandemic. Data collected included company roles within manufacturing, company size, and the current impact of the COVID-19 shutdown. Other information provided showed plans for government stimulus money, investment plans for future automation, and onshoring business plan updates.

The survey results can be found here.

As an association, A3 has been able to witness the critical role automation technology is playing to help safeguard people and processes during the global coronavirus crisis. Our members, and all those involved in automation technology, are part of the large ecosystem making a difference in our battle with COVID-19.

Through these unprecedented times, we encourage the US government to expand its investments in robotics and automation.  We will continue to see how automation technologies are keeping people safe, helping develop new medicines and treatments, producing key products people need today, and filling other essential roles.

The goal of the survey results is to help our members devise more tools and strategies to stay competitive and relevant during this pandemic and in the immediate future as the United States starts opening back up again.

The majority of respondents work in automation engineering (25%) and marketing or sales (30%). Within the manufacturing space, 19.5% of respondents operate as robot system integrators, while 11.2% are automation end users.

The manufacturing workforce has been impacted by layoffs, furloughs, and wage cuts. Those surveyed indicated the largest effects are hiring freezes in place, along with reduced hours of operation.  In some good news, 25% also say no changes have been made to the workforce.

Courtesy of: RIA[/caption]

When asked for further details on how COVID-19 has been influencing business, respondents’ answers showed common themes. Some specific impacts and side effects include:

• Customer projects are being delayed, and customer visits are limited, if not shut down completely.
• Inquiries for our product during the ‘work from home’ phase of the pandemic have actually increased, but too soon to tell if additional sales will result since the overall economic impact and duration of the shutdown is unknown.
• Our solutions are in higher demand; COVID-19 is bringing new opportunities
• Disruption to manufacturing and push-out of customer orders due to their disruption of manufacturing
• New projects are delayed or furloughed
• Orders are 3x the normal level
• Majority of research & development has stopped.

This article originally appeared on the Robotics Online Blog. Robotic Industries Association (RIA) is a part of the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), a CFE Media content partner.

Original content can be found at Control Engineering.

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