# Episode 119: Robotics for small manufacturers - Will Kinghorn

- Show: [Robot Talk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk)
- Published: 2025-05-02
- Length: 24m
- Episode: 119
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-05-02-episode-119-robotics-for-small-manufacturers-will-kinghorn
- Listen: https://ukrobotics.libsyn.com/episode-119-robotics-for-small-manufacturers-will-kinghorn

## Summary

Will Kinghorn, an automation specialist at the UK government-funded Made Smarter program, discusses strategies for helping small and medium-sized manufacturers adopt robotics. He identifies key barriers such as the perception of high costs, lack of awareness of available technologies, and skills gaps, while highlighting the growing accessibility of collaborative robots for bespoke production. Kinghorn also addresses the role of AI in manufacturing, emphasizing current limitations regarding safety and traceability in regulated industries like aerospace, and notes that automation typically leads to hiring rather than job displacement.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-05-02-episode-119-robotics-for-small-manufacturers-will-kinghorn#t=7) Introduction and Made Smarter Overview
- [5:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-05-02-episode-119-robotics-for-small-manufacturers-will-kinghorn#t=304) Barriers to Robotics Adoption for SMEs
- [8:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-05-02-episode-119-robotics-for-small-manufacturers-will-kinghorn#t=496) Collaborative Robots for Bespoke Manufacturing
- [9:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-05-02-episode-119-robotics-for-small-manufacturers-will-kinghorn#t=547) The Made Smarter Assessment Process
- [11:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-05-02-episode-119-robotics-for-small-manufacturers-will-kinghorn#t=688) AI, Safety, and Traceability in Manufacturing
- [11:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-05-02-episode-119-robotics-for-small-manufacturers-will-kinghorn#t=688) Decarbonization and Automation
- [16:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-05-02-episode-119-robotics-for-small-manufacturers-will-kinghorn#t=984) Human-Robot Collaboration and Job Impact
- [20:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-05-02-episode-119-robotics-for-small-manufacturers-will-kinghorn#t=1222) The Future of Humanoid Robots

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Made Smarter (company)
- Boston Dynamics (company)
- Disney (company)
- Atlas (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [276: 2026 Automation Industry Outlook, Live from the A3 Business Forum](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-02-24-276-2026-automation-industry-outlook-live-from-the-a3-business-forum) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Lowering the Barrier to Robot Deployment](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-09-27-lowering-the-barrier-to-robot-deployment) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [How to Solve the Technology Hesitancy Issue in Manufacturing w/ Erik Nieves](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-09-07-how-to-solve-the-technology-hesitancy-issue-in-manufacturing-w-erik-nieves) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Leadership Perspectives on Robotics, Highlights from Automate LIVE in Detroit, MI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-05-09-leadership-perspectives-on-robotics-highlights-from-automate-live-in-detroit-mi) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [BONUS: A Look Inside the 2022 A3 Business Forum](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-02-22-bonus-a-look-inside-the-2022-a3-business-forum) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-05-02-episode-119-robotics-for-small-manufacturers-will-kinghorn. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Robot Talk.