The numbers of robots in organizations grow at an increasing rate. However, very little is known about how robotization (i.e., the implementation of robots at work) affects the work characteristics of the jobs it impacts. This qualitative study focuses on exploring the influence of industrial robots on perceived work characteristics. Eighteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with production line workers and supervisors of four Spanish manufacturing companies. Results showed benefits in physical demands, perceived skill variety, and improved social relationships. We found inconsistent results for job complexity, task variety, and autonomy. Based on our findings, we suggest specific moderators that may be influencing the relationship between robotization and some work characteristics. The findings of our study contribute to the existing literature by expanding work design theory, providing empirical evidence on the influence of an antecedent of work characteristics (robotization), and suggesting several moderators.

Relying upon an original (country-sector-year) measure of robotic capital ($RK$), we investigate the degree of complementarity/substitutability between robots and workers at different skill levels. We employ nonparametric methods to estimate elasticity of substitution patterns between $RK$ and skilled/unskilled labor over the period 1995–2009. We show that: i) on average, $RK$ exhibits less substitutability with skilled workers compared to unskilled workers, indicating a phenomenon of “RK-Skill complementarity”. This pattern holds in a global context characterized by significant heterogeneity; ii) the dynamic of “RK-Skill complementarity” has increased since the early 2000s; iii) the observed strengthening is more prominent in OECD countries, as opposed to non-OECD countries, and in the Manufacturing sector, compared to non-Manufacturing industries.

This paper presents some problems dealing with the transportation of bulk and liquid materials. The robotization of the transport process by an elastic manipulator of an elephant trunk type is proposed. The design of an experimental stand and some results of statical and dynamical analysis are presented. In conclusion, some proposals describing the possibilities of utilising elastic manipulators for transport purposes are given.