In 1989, the MIT Commission on Industrial Productivity produced the Made in America report. One of the recommendations of Made in America was to establish the Industrial Performance Center (IPC) to carry on the interdisciplinary investigations of industrial productivity, innovation, and competitiveness that the Commission had begun. Established in 1991, with the help of a major grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the IPC has brought together faculty and students from all five MIT Schools in research collaborations on industry. Since its inception, the faculty, students and affiliates of the IPC have produced numerous books, articles, papers and other publications that have advanced the understanding of strategic, technological, and organizational developments in a broad range of industries.

Report | September 30, 2024

Automation from the Worker’s Perspective: Executive Summary

Ben Armstrong

Ben Armstrong is Executive Director of the Industrial Performance Center and co-leads the Work of the Future Initiative.

Valerie K. Chen

PhD Candidate, Interactive Robotics Group, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Alex Cuellar

PhD Candidate, Interactive Robotics Group, MIT Aeronautics and Astronautics

Alex Forsey-Smerek

PhD Candidate, Interactive Robotics Group, MIT Aeronautics and Astronautics

Julie Shah

Julie Shah is Faculty Director of the Industrial Performance Center and co-leads the Work of the Future Initiative.

Common narratives about automation often pit new technologies against workers. The introduction of advanced machine tools, industrial robots, and AI have all been met with concern that technological progress will mean fewer jobs. However, workers themselves offer a more optimistic, nuanced perspective. Drawing on a far-reaching 2024 survey of more than 9,000 workers across nine […]

Working Paper | September 30, 2024

Automation from the Worker’s Perspective

Ben Armstrong

Ben Armstrong is Executive Director of the Industrial Performance Center and co-leads the Work of the Future Initiative.

Valerie K. Chen

PhD Candidate, Interactive Robotics Group, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Alex Cuellar

PhD Candidate, Interactive Robotics Group, MIT Aeronautics and Astronautics

Alex Forsey-Smerek

PhD Candidate, Interactive Robotics Group, MIT Aeronautics and Astronautics

Julie Shah

Julie Shah is Faculty Director of the Industrial Performance Center and co-leads the Work of the Future Initiative.

Common narratives about automation often pit new technologies against workers. The introduction of advanced machine tools, industrial robots, and AI have all been met with concern that technological progress will mean fewer jobs. However, workers themselves offer a more optimistic, nuanced perspective. Drawing on a far-reaching 2024 survey of more than 9,000 workers across nine […]