Robotization in the Japanese automotive industry

Abstract

Describes the robotization of the Japanese automotive industry. The automotive industry is still the major segment of the industrial robot market in Japan. At the moment, however, annual shipments of industrial robots to the industry are at only 60 per cent of the peak in 1991. This reflects the struggling Japanese economy and low capital investment in domestic car production. Robot applications in car production processes seem to have reached saturation. No new big applications can be expected. Prompt recovery is unlikely.