Sanofi’s shift to robots and ‘digital twins’ at U.S. biologics site costs 95 jobs

Sanofi is investing more than $300 million in its Framingham, Massachusetts, plant as it continues a global manufacturing transformation that at some plants leans heavily on robots and digital processes. But more robots translates into fewer people and so the company will cut nearly 100 jobs at the site even as it expands capacity. Sanofi spokeswoman Ashleigh Koss confirmed today that 95 employees will be let go even as the facility adds capacity, a byproduct of the manufacturing streamlining. “This transformation at our Framingham sites will streamline our operations, and we are adjusting staffing levels at the site accordingly,” a company statement said. “Employees who are affected will receive severance benefits and outplacement assistance.” The cuts in Framingham come weeks after the French drugmaker announced it would lay off 130 workers at a plant in the Boston suburb of Allston, Massachusetts. In that case, Sanofi decided to outsource some of the production process as well as make technology upgrades.