Robotics, Construction, and Capital

It is easy to dismiss robots as only working in a controlled environment. It is also easy to dismiss looking at the speed, flaws and costs.

D. Brown Management Profile Picture
Share

As you watch the Atlas Robot from Boston Dynamics do some basic parkour moves

or this drywall hanging robot:

 it is also easy to dismiss looking at the speed, flaws and costs.

However take a look at where the technology was at in 2009: 

While still impressive we have come a very long ways. This would be having an uncoordinated dog in 2009 being able to hang a pieces of sheetrock in 2018.  

Look at the rapid leaps we have made with mobile technology as we went from “candybar phones” in 2005 to the first smartphone in 2011.

Where do you think we are at in that innovation curve when it comes to robotics?  

  • Keep in mind that more and more of construction is moving towards offsite fabrication in a controlled environment that will accelerate the use of robotics.  
  • Keep in mind that the balance of the 3 basic constraints on a contracting business shift towards capital when this tipping point occurs.
  • Rise of the Robots is a great book to provide food for strategic thought.

What is your technology strategy?  How is it integrated with your talent and capital management strategies? 




CFMA: Effective Interviewing Processes
As part of the talent diagnostics luncheon, 83% of the group identified a lack of qualified candidates. Only 35% self-rated their interviewing process as “Very Effective,” while many cited lack of time to effectively manage the process.
Effectively Leveraging Trainers, Coaches, and Mentors
Contracting is a high-risk sport and the training of yourself, your managers and your craft labor should be as rigorous as a professional sports team. We are facing a massive shortage of critical talent yet most spend very little on talent development.
Progressive Levels of Business Development
The most important first step for a contractor is to find a customer who will pay for a project. With continued growth, the process of business development becomes progressively more complex including how it is integrated with strategy and operations.