Referred to as the “manufacturing skills gap”, this issue boils down to the manufacturing sector being unable to find workers who have the proper skills, knowledge, or expertise to take the open positions. The need to close the skills gap is perhaps one of the most pressing challenges for the manufacturing sector.
According to a recent study by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute, the pandemic erased 1.4 million U.S. manufacturing jobs – coupled with the skills gap, this could result in nearly 2.1 million unfilled jobs by 2030, and an estimated economic cost of approximately 1 trillion dollars.
The manufacturing industry plays a large part in creating job opportunities all across the world, the World Bank estimates that manufacturing output accounts for approximately 16% of the global GDP. So, it is extremely important to find sustainable solutions to attract new workers and upskill the workers currently employed in this sector.
Digital and connected technologies offer scalable, sustainable solutions to train, upskill, and retain skilled workers in the manufacturing sector.
Connected Industry Solutions
The industrial sector has its own set of training challenges, however, with connected technologies these issues are simplified and streamlined. Examples of these are:
- Targeted Training, data collected helps design training programs based on individual workers in a manufacturing organization. Allowing for automated mini-trainings based on any repeat offenses, the documentation and sharing of tacit knowledge and best practices, and expedited onboarding or reskilling of employees.
- Digital Workflows, guide workers through complex tasks, giving them access to a digital checklist, and preventing common errors while keeping productivity and the factory floor running smoothly.
- Real-Time Analytics, gives workers relevant information as it becomes available, this frees up workers to focus on creative problem solving, as well as speeding reaction in times of necessity.
These are just a few examples of smart technology working alongside and augmenting workers in the manufacturing sector.
People-Centric Digitization
In a people-first digital culture, workers are viewed as an asset, not a problem to be solved. Instead of replacing human workers with technology, organizations give them tools to enhance their abilities. Many of these tools utilize Industrial Internet of Things technologies, however, there are things that IIoT does not consider.
People care about privacy, machines do not. Human behavior varies, and having tools that account for that variability alongside the data provided by machines is integral to the evolution of manufacturing capabilities.
Connected technologies can help close the skills gap. By adopting a human-first digital culture and coupling that with the idea of an Industrial Internet of People – rather than an Industrial Internet of Things, manufacturing organizations can set themselves up for success in the new age of industry 4.0.
About Guardhat
Guardhat is pioneering end-to-end connected worker safety solutions for industrial workers. We offer cutting-edge, wearable technology; a proprietary connected worker platform – unrivaled in its ability to ingest, manage and analyze unstructured data; easy-to-deploy monitoring and reporting software; and a growing system of partner integrations.
Guardhat enables companies to monitor worker location, health, and work environment to shorten reaction time and help proactively solve safety challenges. We hold 15 patents in real-time location systems, wearable solution design, and connected worker software. If you are interested in our connected safety solutions – including situational awareness, environmental and biometric monitoring, multi-modal communication, RTLS, Covid-19, and other advanced technology solutions – contact us to arrange a demo.
