manufacturers often have to choose between flexibility and efficiency, a situation that is ultimately unsustainable if the sector wishes to keep pace with more digitally mature industries.
But who will actually address these issues? And the more pressing question is how? Nearly a quarter of the manufacturing workforce in major economies is at least 55 years old. At the same time, manufacturing faces record turnover rates and a shrinking talent pool. European factories, in particular, are trying to catch up digitally with US and Asian rivals, making modernization even more challenging.
The experience for young engineers
For newcomers to industrial automation, technology fragmentation is even more problematic. Many expect intuitive software, quick onboarding, and clear, collaborative documentation. Facing fragmented tech stacks and outdated tools, they encounter an unnecessarily steep learning curve. That first impression can stick.
It’ s not surprising, then, that many of these individuals veer towards opportunities in‘ flashier’ fields, such as consumer technology, gaming, or connected automotive. In these industries, streamlined, welldocumented, and collaborative development environments are the norm. They want to build, iterate, and innovate quickly, rather than spend time deciphering complex toolchains or navigating bespoke legacy systems. If industrial automation can’ t offer a similar developer experience, it risks deterring the very talent it needs.
Making better software the norm
Relying on engineers to build every device user interface from scratch is no longer feasible. Even seasoned professionals now face constant pressure to rework, modify, or rebuild software to fit different hardware, business needs, or customer requests- repeatedly. The amount of time and effort wasted on repetitive, ground-up UI development is substantial.
The answer lies in abstraction, reusability, and flexibility. Before sinking resources into yet another tool, manufacturers should step back and ask: Is this platform straightforward for new hires to learn? Will they be productive within days, rather than months? Does the tool simplify focusing on genuine innovation, or does it just add a layer of complexity?
The industry needs pre-made, customizable templates and modular UI components to become standard. This allows teams to quickly assemble and brand solutions that work seamlessly across devices, without rewriting extensive code every time the brief changes. Maintenance and upgrades become simpler, and onboarding new engineers is much easier. It would also reduce the need to hire external consultants to cover any gaps.
Even more importantly, toolkits need to reflect the reality of leaner teams and limited resources. Software must enable rapid prototyping and deployment( sometimes in days, not months) and maintain consistent experiences even as demands evolve.
A generation that won’ t wait for clunky hardware
Today’ s new engineers and developers are true digital natives. They expect their work tools to be as fast, smooth, and intuitive as the technology they’ ve grown up with and use every day. Slow or outdated interfaces are just another reason for talented people to look elsewhere. Usability and a good user experience are now fundamental requirements.
For industrial automation to attract and retain this new generation, software and interfaces must meet higher standards. Manufacturers that prioritise modern, simple environments will enable engineers to create and innovate freely. Those that do not will struggle to attract the talent they need. https:// www. qt. io /
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