Reinventing manufacturing How AI and the next generation can bridge the skills gap. By Jean-Baptiste Clouard
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he skills gap in the manufacturing industry is a growing problem, and we’re increasingly seeing new ways of talking about an old problem. The manufacturing industry has a historic, old-fashioned perception that can often deter younger workers from choosing it for their career path – it’s an industry that can been seen as stuffy and under-paying. But we’re slowly seeing a transformation happen that subverts all these perceptions in Industry 4.0. Industry 4.0 is the emergence and increased use of new technologies as part of the new industrial revolution and is shaping the direction of the manufacturing industry today. New and emerging technologies, and new AI-focused star tups, are creating career opportunities for the likes of software developers and engineers in the hopes of using AI to automate
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processes and create innovative ways of addressing problems. But that does leave the need for these skills, and where do manufacturing companies access them?
The greater need for skills
Manufacturers often cite the skills gap as a reason for a slow transition to more innovative ways of working – there is a need for more technical skills to keep up. The industry needs to encourage people with skills in these sectors to apply for work in manufacturing and to upskill current employees to ensure they are not left behind. According to a study conducted by The Manufacturing Institute’s Centre for Manufacturing Research and the American Psychological Association, around two-thirds of employees under age 25 said they stay with their current employer
