Manufacturing Co. Inc., one of the world's oldest and largest manufacturers of center-pivot and lateral-move irrigation systems, employs nearly 400 people-about half the population of Deshler, Neb., where the company is located. The demand for workers, especially skilled workers, far outstrips the available supply. At one time Reinke had more than 50 job openings. With production demands increasing and no end to the labor shortage in sight, the company recently implemented robotic automation. "The reduction of highly skilled welders required to produce water pipe was our major goal with the installation of this system," said Brian Schardt, Reinke's manufacturing engineer who managed the project. "To produce the same number of water pipes per shift as the automated robotic cell with two operators, Reinke would have to employ eight highly skilled welders. Now these talented welders can be dispersed into our other weld operations, improving efficiency and overall capacity."
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