The idea of having machines do man's work is certainly far from

          new in man's thinking.  This dream is finally emerging from the

          realm of science fiction and beginning to transform the way the

          real world works.  With the influx of computers into the working

          world, a new dimension has been added to the work force.  This

          novel addition to the work force is the robot.  Today, robots in

          the workplace are the subject of widespread public scrutiny.  The

          use of robots in industry offers many advantages over using

          traditional human workers; however, at the same time, serious

          social and psychological implications accompany the employment of

          robots.  Consequently, robots in industry have become a topic of

          heated contention.


            In order to better appreciate the issue posed by industrial

          robots, it is initially crucial to underderstand what is actually

          meant by the word "robot".  Technically, "a robot is a

          reprogrammable, multifunctional manipulator designed to move

          material, parts, tools, or other specialized devices through

          variable programmed motions for the performance of a variety of

          tasks."[1]  Simply, "robots are computers with limbs attached to

          them."[2]  Yet, what is critical to realize is that robots are

          capable of doing a human's work.  Given the fact that a robot or

          a human could accomplish a certain job, the question that arises

          ----------

          1. H. Allan Hunt and Timothy L. Hunt, Human Resource Implications
                                                _____ ________ ____________
          of Robotics, Upjohn Institute, Michigan, 1983, pp.8.
          __ ________

          2. Steven Mandell and Grace Hopper,Understanding Computers, West
                                             _____________ _________
          Publishing Co., New York, 1984, pp.363.



                                        - 1 -










          is: who should actually be chosen to do the job --- the robot or

          the man?  In answering this question, it is necessary to examine

          the advantages and disadvantages of industrial robots.


            In many respects, robots are preferable to human workers.

               Robots do not take breaks, get sick, take vacations,
               require fringe benefits or retirement plans, nor do
               they go on strike.  More importantly, they work when
               the industry needs them and can put in a twenty-four
               hour working day without overtime pay.[3]


          In addition, robots never get bored.  As a result,robots are

          ideal for tedious, repetitive jobs.  In the automotive industry,

          for instance, spot welding is particularly amenable to robots.

          "There are only a limited variety of auto bodies, the assembly

          line can pre-position the parts precisely, and the environment

          can be perfectly organized because the nature of the work does

          not change.  In short, it is a dull, repetitive task that is

          perfectly suited to today's robots."[4]  Furthermore, robots can

          be safely used around heat, fumes, or radiation.  Robots are not

          affected by such conditions.  " Robots can work with toxic

          chemicals and can not develop debilitating diseases for which the

          company might be held legally responsible."[5]  Robots are also

          used in underground mining.  In one way or another, the

          aforementioned advantages of using industrial robots can save a

          ----------

          3. Leslie Chamberlin,U.S.A.  Today, "Facing Up To Robotation,"
                               ______  _____
          Nov.  1982, pp.32.

          4. Hunt, pp.10.

          5. Mandell and Hopper, pp.286.



                                        - 2 -










          company time and unnecessary