A new approach in an antiquated industry
EDITOR ’ S CHOICE ADAPT OR PERISH
AXAIR FANS UK LIMITED
A new approach in an antiquated industry
By Andrew Jones – Technical Director , Axair Fans UK Limited
Based on data 90 % of large , and more than two thirds of smallmedium enterprises are facing skills shortages in engineering . In our industry the problem is far more specific ; it ’ s an in-depth knowledge and application of physics to understand pressure development , air movement behaviour , the infinity fan laws around power , pressure and volume , and a basic awareness of chemical properties , these are the common things that our customers in particular struggle with . In education , this type of knowledge is typically taught only in theory , yet the application of that theory used to problem solve and apply , is a skill that is more difficult to ascertain . As a child I was born with what the industry calls “ the knack ”, a natural ability to understand and apply concepts quickly and easily , but my formal education was in no way suited to the skill set I had .
This brings me on to qualifications and skills being different . These transferable skills are so specific that companies simply cannot get that experience from looking at employee ’ s formal qualifications , or by making hires based on statements on paper . Especially , as with my experience , people sometimes don ’ t find their feet until later due to a lack of direction . As the technical director of a fan business , I ’ m pleased that we have a forward-thinking approach , removing the barriers that can obstruct people from entering the profession , allowing them to reach their potential and rise to the top .
We hire on ability , through having conversations and interpreting their understanding and approach to problem solving , we quickly determine if the knack is there . Out in the field there are striking gender differences , especially on more technical roles , I ’ m proud that we have an equal balance of male and female employees . Comparably , our team are getting younger , going against the grain on the issue of an aging workforce in the field . Today ’ s industry employment reports show that 19.5 % of engineers working in the UK will retire by 2026 , exacerbating the skills shortage .
The continued challenge for manufacturers is evident , with 98 % of companies expressing concerns that their business will suffer if they can ’ t hire the right engineers or technical biased employees . New graduates often struggle with the ability to apply their theory to actual problems as their education has not been geared towards problem solving . This leaves that seismic shift when experienced engineers at the top are replaced with new engineers .
That ’ s where collaboration with suppliers and manufacturers is key , the new approach in an antiquated industry . It ’ s ignorant to think that companies should have an inhouse team that make technical calculations , designing in isolation with the desired outcome of delivering the best system that performs at the optimal level for the customer project . Minimising disruption by working with external experts in niche areas is one way to make an instant positive impact to your business , with no training or recruitment required . Incredibly valuable if those businesses are working on time-sensitive projects or need to avoid any impact on production delays .
It ’ s a matter of adapting or perishing for businesses that rely on their technical product selection teams . Adapt by working collaboratively and utilising the skill sets of other businesses , businesses such as Axair that can understand the industry needs and anticipate solutions , suggesting potentially creative business enhancing fan components that could create opportunities for greater market share and customer satisfaction , or perish by losing competitive advantage through falling behind on technological advancements and relying on inhouse teams that lack the application knowledge without giving them the support from these experts . At the end of the day , no one ever beat a competitor by staying the same , speed and adaptability is the new key performance indicator in today ’ s economy . The antiquated approach of we ’ ve always done it this way simply doesn ’ t hold weight .
For further information , please visit www . axair-fans . co . uk
18 PECM Issue 68