Robots, previously reserved for only the largest manufacturers, have now advanced to the point they can be used in smaller-scale operations, and they're finding their way into a variety of tasks across industries. "In the past, automotive companies and other large manufacturers used robotics to do one thing or insert one part millions of times over the years," said Justin Percio, business manager for the automated welding segment of Lincoln Electric in Cleveland. "Today, robots are flexible enough to work on a large variety of parts or tasks cost-effectively."