October 2020

Focus on: Training Maintenance Matters October 2020 www.pwemag.co.uk Plant & Works Engineering | 17 T he manufacturing industry is currently undergoing a revolution, with many existing systems needing to be revamped or renewed due to Industry 4.0 and IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things). With this revolution, it is imperative that we find a solution to bridge skills gaps. Otherwise, manufacturers may find themselves outmoded, while there won’t be enough labour to go around. A report by The Manufacturing Institute and Deloitte last year found that 4.6 million jobs will need to be filled in the sector over the next decade, and 2.4 million jobs may be left open between 2018-2028 due to a lack of trained workers.1 The skills gap within the manufacturing industry is not a new development, especially in recent years. It’s a challenge for every engineer to work in a new area where new knowledge must be acquired. Due to the existing shortage of skilled workers, companies must internally train their employees to gain new skills for new technology. As technology grows – will the skills gap? It comes as no shock that the technology used in manufacturing is constantly changing to keep up with industry needs. Machines are getting smarter and are increasingly networked with each other to pass on certain information to generate an optimal workflow. As this technology grows it may feel daunting to engineers who were trained many years ago. Grasping these new skills will also take longer if the user isn’t already used to operating modern technology. Equipment such as code writing machines, robotics and data analysis will be all but alien. Although it may seem like there is a divide between the more experienced engineers and young engineers that are just beginning their career, it is actually quite the contrary. Experience in manufacturing is a desired trait and although knowing all modern equipment may be a bonus, younger engineers may struggle with the basics of engineering and manufacturing. So how are we going to help bridge that gap? Head of norelem ACADEMY and product trainer, Martin Ahner, explains that manufacturers like norelem have taken a step in this direction with its smart product portfolio, which shows how new technologies have impacted new standard components. How standard components can help bridge that gap He explains that closing the skills gap isn’t something that one person or one company can do alone. It will take a collective effort to address this industry-wide issue. Ahner comments that one solution is the use Engineers are now being challenged with rapid advances in technology, changing age-old processes and methods, resulting in an increasing skills gap. PWE discusses how standard components can help bridge that gap. Addressing industry skills shortage