Impact on Labour

The future automated factory refers to substitution of machines for human workers. The implementations for employment in factory operations are apparent.  As automation is implemented, there shall be a shift from direct labour jobs to indirect jobs. Direct labour factory work tends to be well described, manual, and repetitive. Because of these feature, the skill level needed to perform it is low in general. Indirect labour work in factories is sometimes manual but not as well defined and not so repetitive. Many job classifications for indirect labour need skill and training.

As an effect of the shift from direct to indirect labour in future factories, the rank of labour unions are likely to be harmfully affected unless the unions might recruit in employment areas where they have traditionally not been successful. Highly skilled professional and semi-professional workers have tended to be more confident regarding their employment security, and have linked more with management & professional staffs. Prospects for membership growth in these employment areas pose a difficult challenge for the unions.

This is not possible that all of workers who currently qualify for direct labour positions in now day's conventional factories will qualify for indirect labour location in the future automated factory. It will happen due to the difference in skill requirements. Direct labour jobs in production shall be displaced. Some unskilled workers might be retained, but many shall not be employable. For the worker who is influenced, and for society, there is no denying that job displacement is a negative aspects of automation. Though, if companies do not automate their factories of the future, there is likely to be no future for these companies. The -ive impact on employment in this case would be far bad.