Page 22 - Logistics News - March_April 2022

UP SK IL L ING

Upskilling key to addressing

growing technology skills gap

By Daniel Orelowitz, MD of Training Force

Technology has always been a significant disruptor in the manufacturing sector, and

as the rapid acceleration of digitalisation continues, the fourth industrial revolution

(4IR) is once again changing the game.

obotics and automation are taking over many because as digitalisation becomes more prevalent, aspects such
previously manual processes, making roles that as paperwork become computer-based.
Rwere once fulfi lled by human staff redundant.

This reduces the cost of labour and, in turn, the cost of The reality is that technology is taking away certain jobs

manufacturing, therefore increasing profitability for while creating others and alternative skills are essential to
manufacturers. However, it also means that new roles are ensure continued employment and employability. Rather than
being created and there is a technology-related skills gap hiring new people with new skills, those loyal workers who have
that needs to be addressed through appropriate training become trusted business assets should be upskilled wherever
and skills development initiatives. possible.

Automating the future People at the heart

Robotic automation can be used to significantly enhance The manufacturing sector is changing, but people are still at the
systems and processes, making manufacturing faster, heart of it and it is imperative to give people the skills they need
cheaper and more efficient while improving the quality of to continue to be productive and employable in a technology-

products as well as worker safety. Some of these roles include driven future. Training initiatives need to become aligned with
welding, assembly, packing, shipping and handling of raw new skill sets required by 4IR as a matter of priority, so that the
materials, including hazardous chemicals. manufacturing sector can remain competitive and that its people
can remain employable.
As artificial intelligence, machine learning and robotics

continue to advance, robots will be able to take on a broader Companies have a responsibility to train their staff to ensure

range of manufacturing tasks. However, while this is they remain relevant in the new world and a moral obligation to

beneficial for the manufacturing sector as a whole, it has the help people develop skills that will enable them to continue being

potential to leave many previously employed people short of productive and employable. The benefit of upskilling and training

work. The required skill sets are changing – people need to from within is that these are people who already know the
know how to work with machines, rather than how to make business, who understand the dynamics and processes, and will
specific products, and upskilling has become critical. be able to assimilate new skills a lot faster than external hires.

New skills for a new world However, in order to get maximum benefit from training

While machines take over mundane, repetitive and rules- and development, these initiatives need to be aligned not
L O GI S T I CS NEWS management and maintenance, which in turn requires by the business. A trusted training partner can help to
only with skills required by the 4IR, but also skills required
based tasks, machines also require configuration, handling,

develop a training plan and roadmap for the future to drive
people. It has become imperative to upskill employees on
new, technology-based skills such as these, because new
business forward while upskilling staff to remain relevant and

job roles will be created as automation increases. There is

adaptable in a world where technology is the future and is
also a growing skills gap when it comes to basic computing
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