--- title: Workforce Shortages Are Threatening Defense Readiness—Can Robotics Help? description: The U.S. defense industry is facing a growing workforce crisis.  image: https://blog.boston-engineering.com/hubfs/crawler%20sub.png --- ![Spin gif](https://blog.boston-engineering.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Boston_Engineering_September2022/images/Spin.gif) ** ** Boston Engineering Customer Portal ## Service Desk for PTC Windchill and ThingWorx IIoT ![thigworx](https://blog.boston-engineering.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Boston_Engineering_September2022/images/thigworx.png?width=143&name=thigworx.png)   ![ptc](https://blog.boston-engineering.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Boston_Engineering_September2022/images/ptc.png?width=216&name=ptc.png) Use the Boston Engineering customer portal to submit service requests, get status updates, and Check PLM/IIoT KPIs. 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Published by [ Rachel Kasson ](https://blog.boston-engineering.com/author/rachel-kasson) on Jun 9, 2026 8:03:06 PM ##### **The U.S. defense industry is facing a growing workforce crisis. ** Across public and private shipyards, experienced tradespeople are retiring faster than they can be replaced. At the same time, increasingly complex maintenance requirements are placing additional demands on an already strained workforce. For military organizations, this challenge extends far beyond staffing concerns. Workforce shortages directly impact maintenance schedules, equipment availability, and ultimately mission readiness. ![reshoring6](https://blog.boston-engineering.com/hs-fs/hubfs/reshoring6.png?width=760&height=141&name=reshoring6.png) ##### **The Knowledge Gap Nobody Can Ignore  ** Many defense maintenance operations depend on decades of institutional knowledge accumulated by highly experienced personnel. As these workers retire, organizations risk losing valuable expertise that isn't fully captured in manuals or training programs. This challenge is particularly acute in shipyard environments where maintenance activities often require specialized skills, safety considerations, and operational knowledge developed over years of hands-on experience. ##### **Why Traditional Solutions Aren't Enough  ** Hiring and training new personnel remains essential, but workforce development takes time. Defense organizations need solutions that can improve productivity today while supporting the workforce of tomorrow. That's where robotics and digital technologies are beginning to play a critical role. ##### **Enter FOSAR: A New Approach to Sustainment  ** Boston Engineering's [Family of Shipyard Assisting Robotics (FOSAR)](https://www.boston-engineering.com/solutions/technical-innovation/fosar/) was developed specifically to address workforce retirement, skilled labor shortages, and maintenance inefficiencies. Rather than replacing workers, FOSAR is designed to enhance human capability through a combination of robotics, digital tools, mixed reality technologies, and common operating platforms. By leveraging assistive robotics and digitally enabled workflows, FOSAR helps organizations: - Extend the effectiveness of experienced personnel - Capture and preserve institutional knowledge - Reduce physical demands on workers - Improve maintenance productivity - Increase equipment availability ![FOSAR](https://blog.boston-engineering.com/hs-fs/hubfs/FOSAR.png?width=1265&height=641&name=FOSAR.png) ##### **Building the Future Workforce  ** Today's workforce expects modern tools. Digital technologies, robotics, and intuitive user interfaces can help attract a new generation of skilled workers while making maintenance environments safer and more efficient. The future of defense readiness will depend not only on advanced military systems but also on the people who maintain them. Solutions like FOSAR help ensure that expertise, efficiency, and operational effectiveness remain available for years to come. As defense organizations seek to modernize sustainment operations, robotics may prove to be one of the most powerful force multipliers available. [**Contact us today to start the FOSAR conversation.**](https://www.boston-engineering.com/contact/) ![FOSAR1](https://blog.boston-engineering.com/hs-fs/hubfs/FOSAR1.png?width=756&height=155&name=FOSAR1.png) --- --- ### Download the 2025 Boston Engineering Technology Overview!   ### [Embrace the future trends that are shaping a new era of engineering excellence. 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Download your copy of the Boston Engineering 2025 Technology Overview today!  **Key Topics:** - **Re-shoring as a Competitive Advantage** - **Modular Sustainment Robotics** - **Embedded Systems** - **DFX (Design for X)** - **Control Systems** - **Digital Solutions** - **Mechanical Engineering** - **Software Engineering** ### [Download the Boston Engineering 2025 Technology Overview](https://page.boston-engineering.com/boston-engineering-2025-technology-overview-download)   --- ![reshoring8](https://blog.boston-engineering.com/hs-fs/hubfs/reshoring8.png?width=760&height=213&name=reshoring8.png) --- *Download the Latest Immersive Technology Whitepaper from Boston Engineering* ![https://page.boston-engineering.com/navigating-the-augmented-reality-landscape-whitepaper](https://blog.boston-engineering.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Aug-21-2024-02-50-08-3085-PM.png?width=626&height=377&name=image-png-Aug-21-2024-02-50-08-3085-PM.png) Augmented Reality (AR) is revolutionizing the way we interact with digital content, merging the physical and digital worlds in innovative ways. In this white paper, we provide a comprehensive overview of AR, exploring its definition, potential uses, challenges in adoption, and strategies for companies to embrace this transformative technology. [Download to begin Embracing the Future](https://page.boston-engineering.com/navigating-the-augmented-reality-landscape-whitepaper) ---   ![reshoring11](https://blog.boston-engineering.com/hs-fs/hubfs/reshoring11.png?width=760&height=130&name=reshoring11.png) No matter the challenge, our team possesses the expertise in the engineering disciplines and technologies you need to bring your vision to life. Impossible Challenge? Try Us. [![Contact Us Today](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/21108934/0df87125-bacf-44e3-9194-7564d8dc6f31.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/21108934/0df87125-bacf-44e3-9194-7564d8dc6f31) ---   Imagine *your* Impact: Stay up-to date- with the latest insights and trends we're watching. Add your email address below and sign up for a Monthly Summary of our most impactful posts! [![Subscribe to our Monthly Newsletter](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/21108934/c0423d17-340b-4977-9b7e-567ee867605e.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/21108934/c0423d17-340b-4977-9b7e-567ee867605e)   Tags: [Robotics](https://blog.boston-engineering.com/tag/robotics), [Defense](https://blog.boston-engineering.com/tag/defense) [Back to Blog](https://blog.boston-engineering.com) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ## Related Articles ## [Embracing the Future: The Importance of Remote Collaboration](https://blog.boston-engineering.com/embracing-the-future-the-importance-of-remote-collaboration) The ability to adapt and embrace technological advancements is crucial for staying... 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