The Dutch manufacturing industry, accounting for 7% of gross domestic product (GDP), is under pressure. A combination of an ageing population, persistent labour shortages and high wage costs are creating urgent challenges, while productivity growth is stagnating. TNO highlights the need for robotisation and automation, and calls for accelerated and coordinated efforts to secure the earning capacity of the Netherlands.
The Netherlands ranks 12th globally with 264 robots per 10,000 employees. The distance with frontrunners is large. South Korea, China and Germany, for example, have between 400 and more than 1,000 robots per 10,000 employees. To restore its competitive position, the productivity of the Dutch manufacturing industry needs to increase by at least 50%, TNO warns.
The research organisation points out that the manufacturing industry is not only an economic pillar, but also crucial for financing social transitions and national security. However, the sector risks losing its position in the global market if rapid and structural investments in modernisation are not made.
Consequences of downtime
The consequences of inaction are already visible in the short term. Within two years, labour shortages due to ageing lead to higher costs and inefficient production. In the medium term (within five years), the Netherlands misses out on productivity gains and obsolete production lines become a structural competitive disadvantage.
In the long term (within a decade), TNO says companies risk even being unable to compete with international players. This could lead to factory closures, job losses and increasing dependence on foreign suppliers.
Longer working days and fewer mistakes
Robotisation could be the answer. TNO points out the advantages of robots. They allow robots to run longer working days than human employees. At the same time, they improve product quality by reducing human errors and lower production costs.
Modern robots are also increasingly intelligent due to the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), according to TNO. Robots are more flexibly deployable, adapt more easily to changing conditions and are faster to program.
'Set a national robotisation agenda'
To realise the acceleration, TNO advocates a national robotisation agenda with clear long-term goals. This agenda should be monitored by a central taskforce. TNO makes the following recommendations:
- Awareness and knowledge sharing: commit to national communication, clear insight into ROI and practical, sector-specific handouts for companies.
- Standardisation and ecosystem strengthening: encourage open source interoperability, invest in strategic niches and aggregate demand to create scale that attracts system integrators.
- Education and labour market: commit to continuous learning lines and mandatory robotics competences to ensure a future-proof talent base.
- International profiling: position the Netherlands as a European testing ground for high mix low volume robotisation and intensify European cooperation.
- Acceleration among SMEs: support Dutch SMEs through sectoral cooperation, low-threshold field labs, vouchers and flexible forms of financing such as Robotics as a Service.
'Dutch manufacturing industry at risk of losing position'
TNO warns that without quick and coordinated action, the Dutch manufacturing industry risks losing its position for good. Mark Courage, director Smart Industry TNO, explains: 'Robotisation is not a luxury but a prerequisite for maintaining our manufacturing industry. A national agenda gives direction, accelerates adoption and ensures that companies, large and small, have access to technology that determines their future. Only then will the Netherlands remain a maker, rather than a dependent buyer."
