Abstract
In recent years, the technology-driven industrial upgrading in China has resulted in human labor being replaced with robots. This article explores the impact of "intelligent manufacturing" on workers from the following two perspectives: labor relations and the labor process. The authors argue that workers on the shopfloor are experiencing some forms of labor degradation due to robotization, i.e., more flexible labor relations, deskilling, and strengthened technical control. Such a corporation-led and machine-centered industrial upgrading is driven by state policy, capital, and the labor market.
Highlights
A new round of technological revolution is triggering a new industrial revolution on a global scale
Digitization, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, and cloud computing have become the keywords of this round of industrial revolution
The original equipment manufacturing (OEM) model that has been in existence for more than 30 years has repeatedly withstood the collateral effects of economic crises in European and American countries
Summary
A new round of technological revolution is triggering a new industrial revolution on a global scale. Changes in working conditions and employment methods the automation department does not have high requirements for the actual labor skills of robot operators, management still highlights the advantages of the department in terms of employment remuneration, such as giving workers a monthly technical allowance of hundreds of yuan, providing internal training, and issuing a "robot operation certificate." not all workers who work with robots receive this treatment Those packaging and handling workers on the packaging line, as well as workers who are responsible for trimming and placing the leftovers at the back end of the robot, do not need to touch the machine for their work; there was no improvement in treatment, and no additional training was required. The factory is researching and promoting "full production automation" on the one hand, and on the other hand, it is solving the current shortage
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
