steel-collar worker; robot
A term from the 1980s contrasting with blue-collar and white-collar workers; refers to industrial robots or automated machinery replacing human labor. Now somewhat dated but still understood.
In the factory, steel-collar workers (robots) are performing welding tasks instead of humans.
The introduction of steel-collar workers greatly improved productivity.
Variant with interpunct; less common in running text.
Wasei-eigo from English 'steel' and 'collar', modeled after 'blue-collar' and 'white-collar'. Coined to describe industrial robots as a new class of 'worker'.