Workforce Development in the Age of Advanced Technologies
Tags: continuous improvement, talent management, maintenance and reliability
The fields of maintenance and reliability have been aware for some time now that they are facing an increasing skills gap. In order to help bridge this gap, technology has begun advancing at an unprecedented pace. However, with these advances come new challenges. Both incoming technicians and those about to retire are now having to grapple with navigating this tsunami of new technologies, which can cause confusion about proper procedures and concern over job security.
While technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) are providing unique opportunities to optimize processes, increase productivity, and take reliability processes to the next level, these complex systems often demand a highly skilled and adaptable workforce to properly utilize them. This is a common challenge and one that many facilities are finding difficult to overcome.
Understanding the Dilemma
Learning to overcome disparities in industrial knowledge is not a new dilemma. For decades, experts have been warning about the mass retirement of an aging workforce, and with their departure, so too goes the decades of knowledge they’ve acquired. While new team members are entering the industry to fill these boots, they often lack the specialized skills needed to carry on these roles.
This is particularly visible in areas such as predictive maintenance, data analytics, and planning and scheduling, where the increased deployment of AI and IIoT require additional training to be appropriately deployed, increase uptime, and deliver the promised facility-wide benefits.
These factors can combine to create user anxiety for both new and senior team members. Team members who have faithfully watched over their equipment for decades may find it challenging to accept suggestions from a new system that may suggest a course of action different than they would suggest. At the same time, incoming team members may feel overwhelmed by the steep learning curve of having to learn both the traditional reliability methods and the new technologically driven solutions.
Tools for Workforce Development
To address these challenges, companies and leaders need to prioritize training in their operational strategies, which will help properly prepare all team members to utilize the technologies being deployed.
Workforce development strategies to consider include:
- Comprehensive Training: One of the most effective methods for developing and advancing a deep knowledge of both technical and soft skills crucial for team success. Technical training can include aspects such as maintenance and reliability best practices, proper machinery lubrication, data analytics, and specialized courses on specific technologies. Soft skills training includes leadership and communication, problem-solving, and collaboration, all of which help team members work together and navigate an ever-evolving workspace.
- Specialized Upskilling: Specially designed programs that enhance team member abilities to help them integrate new technologies into their work routines and create increased performance standards. These opportunities often revolve around technologies, such as AI, IIoT, robotics, and data analytics and come in several forms, including workshops, seminars, and online courses.
- Institutional Collaboration: As a forward-thinking initiative, many vocational schools, community colleges, and universities are partnering with facilities across all industries to ensure that their curriculum aligns with growing industry demands. This helps ensure students entering the industry workforce will have the appropriate skills and mentorship opportunities to more quickly and easily integrate into facility life.
- Leveraging Technology: While technology is causing confusion in some respects, it is widely recognized that the younger workforce is technologically savvy in many areas. Because of this, advanced technologies have increasing potential to positively impact the way skills are being learned in the facility. Technologies like virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) have tangible benefits, teaching real-world scenarios in a simulated environment. This allows team members to practice varying skills in a safe setting without real-world consequences for human errors.
- Developing a Culture of Continuous Improvement: One of the largest factors of team member success and perseverance is company culture. By developing a culture of continuous improvement, leaders champion the importance of continuing personal advancement by creating an environment where employees feel empowered to ask questions, learn new skills, and invest in their professional development. By promoting and rewarding this type of cultural initiative, facilities help team members become more adaptive, resilient, and collaborative.
Conclusion
Successful workforce development is more than just addressing and closing the skills gap facing industries worldwide; it is a way for facilities to directly invest in and promote the long-term adaptability and capability of their entire organization.
Facilities can harness the full potential of supportive technologies by ensuring that every team member—whether new or near retirement—has the knowledge and skills needed to perform their duties in an increasingly technology-driven environment. This approach fosters a fully engaged, knowledgeable workforce and ensures that new employees can be onboarded consistently without relying on tribal knowledge being passed down.
Supplier Spotlight
AssetWatch 60 Collegeview Rd., Westerville, OH 43081 844-464-5652 | www.assetwatch.com
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RelaWorks 1328 E. 43rd Court, Tulsa, OK 74145 918-392-5058 | RelaWorks.com
Finding the right products can be difficult. Every industry and application is unique. Over-spending and guess work is common. At RelaWorks, we help reliability professionals solve this challenge. Our mission is to provide products for your unique needs and budget. Backed by Noria Corporation’s expertise and legendary customer service, we’re excited to help your reliability program succeed.
LubePM 1328 E. 43rd Court, Tulsa, OK 74105 800-597-5460 | LubePM.com
As a Lubrication Management System (LMS) engineered by lubrication professionals, LubePM helps an organization create accountability to ensure that every lubrication point is carefully maintained, inspected and measured. Ready to take your facility’s Lubrication Management System to the next level with LubePM? We’re ready to help. Simply request more information or schedule a demo.