Industry 4.0
T
he advent of Industry 4.0 will bring
with it an increase in dominance
and reliance on technology to
produce far-reaching efficiencies across
a wide variety of sectors. The revolution
of Industry 4.0 is giving manufacturers
faster, more flexible, and more efficient
processes to produce higher-quality goods
and at lower costs. But one of the biggest
changes is to the workforce.
According to the 2018 Global Trends
report released by LinkedIn, 76% of
recruiters and hiring managers think that
the 4th Industrial Revolution, or more
specifically automation and AI, will have
a significant impact on the recruitment
industry. Specialist recruiters, especially
within sectors that are highly vulnerable
to automation, may need to upskill or shift
their focus to a new discipline to stay in
the game.
As a recruitment firm which deals heavily
with the engineering and manufacturing
industry, we see the knock-on effect of
industry changes to jobs first-hand.
We have seen the change in job
descriptions that are including Industry
4.0 terminology such as IoT and AR.
We are being asked by clients to seek
more technical and technology-focused
candidates so that they can adapt to the
constantly changing environment.
Although experts predict that Industry 4.0
will reduce labour, our engineering and
manufacturing division is finding that job
vacancies are increasing.
However, the skillset in the market to
cope with the demand of the environment
is scarce and we don’t know how the
industry will continue to develop if
nothing is done to tackle this.
HOW WE CAN TACKLE THIS
In a market of uncertainty, with new
technology evolving and the pace of
change increasing, it is crucial to consider
the business needs for the future.
A recent study released by McKinsey
Global Institute found that roughly
one-fifth of the global workforce will
be impacted by the adoption of AI and
automation, with the most significant
impact in developed nations like the
8
UK, Germany and US. By 2022, 50% of
companies believe that automation will
decrease their numbers of full-time staff
and by 2030, robots will replace 800
million workers across the world.
Industry 4.0 encompasses a number of
new technologies including VR, AI and
cloud technology which automatically
causes issues. One of the challenges that
comes with modern technology is the new
skills that are needed from employees to
run the machines, code up new processes
and the ability to fix new devices. Across
the board, skills need to develop.
APPRENTICESHIPS
The skills gap within the engineering and
manufacturing sector is no new issue. The
Manufacturer report highlights that 71%
of manufacturers believe apprenticeships
are fast becoming a real alternative to
higher education. Incoming talent can and
should be learning from the highly skilled
and experienced employees already
embedded in the workforce.
By encouraging individuals to start a
career in the sector early, companies can
train and develop staff as experts – and,
more importantly, evolve them with the
new technology that’s on the horizon.
Engaging with teenagers and young
adults, incorporating them into businesses
through apprenticeships and work
placement programmes has exceptional
benefits, especially within Industry 4.0.
UPSKILLING
Machine operators and technicians play
a critical role in most manufacturing
and engineering businesses. Alongside
recruitment into these roles, there is
also a need to upskill those already in
organisations.
If the UK is to become a driving force for
Industry 4.0, every manufacturer needs
to get involved in skills development,
understand the skills needed in the
factories of tomorrow, and invest in the
development of these skills today.
Upskilling machine operators to diagnose
faults and repair machines at source
should mean that productivity will
increase. It seems like a simple equation.
EDUCATION
According to the Higher Education 16
/17 report, over 1 million university
students studied a STEM related course.
Universities can change their syllabus to
be relevant to Industry 4.0 technologies.
However, due to the longevity of creating
up to date courses, it’s possible that
universities can fall behind. At the
moment, only a handful of universities
in the UK are ready for Industry 4.0 with
dedicated courses and facilities.
Which begs the question, will the UK be in
a position to lead the way for Industry 4.0
or will we fall behind?