Manufacturers increasingly use robots to augment workers rather than replace them, with avatar robotics enabling people with disabilities to participate in factory operations.

In 2024, 542,000 robots were installed globally, more than double the number 10 years prior, according to the International Federation of Robotics. A little over half of global manufacturers are adopting robots for quality improvement rather than cost reduction alone.

Panasonic piloted OryLab's OriHime avatar robots—remotely operated systems that allow people with physical disabilities to perform telework involving physical tasks—with compelling results: about 94% of respondents reported a more positive view of the abilities and motivation of workers with physical impairments.

Manufacturers face significant technical and organizational barriers to full automation: 70% of manufacturers still capture data manually, and the most complex challenge is capturing workers' instinctive knowledge honed over years or decades on the factory floor. Successful robot integration requires reskilling workforces to oversee and collaborate with these systems, with safety prioritized first, followed by quality and productivity.