Page 16
ManageMent
www.us-tech.com Addressing the Skills Gap in Manufacturing
through Robotics Training By Louis Columbus, Senior Industry Marketing Manager, DELMIA
manufacturers are racing to cap- ture retiring workers’ knowledge before they leave, using that knowledge with new technolo- gies, including robotics, is be- coming challenging because of a widening skills gap. Nowhere is that skills gap
G
more apparent than on the shop floor, where workflows, often decades old, must be streamlined to keep manufacturers competi- tive. Robotics is helping manu- facturers meet that challenge worldwide. It’s important to keep robotics in context, however, and see it as an enabling technology of a broader knowledge network every manufacturer needs to cul- tivate and grow if they’re going to survive and thrive in the 21st century.
Skills Gap The skills gap between
worker capabilities and what manufacturers need to run their operations is growing. Gaps are the widest in the technology ar-
lobal manufacturing is facing a growing produc- tivity paradox. While
eas that can significantly im- prove shop floor accuracy, speed, and quality, with robotics being one of the most in-demand skills today. A 2021 Deloitte and Man- ufacturing Institute skills gap study forecasts 2.1 million un- filled U.S. manufacturing posi- tions by 2030, potentially costing the economy $1 trillion in 2030 GDP. Globally, the World Eco- nomic Forum predicts a shortage of over 7 million skilled manufac- turing workers by 2030. Several forces are driving
this talent shortage. Up to 25% of the manufacturing workforce will retire in the next decade, draining decades of expertise. At the same time, the industry is undergoing rapid digital trans- formation through technologies, including AI, predictive analyt- ics, and collaborative robotics. This results in a mismatch,
where just 30% of front line man- ufacturing workers have skills aligned to the evolving needs of manufacturing, with robotics be- ing the most in-demand yet least available skill. The majority of manufactur-
ers, 83%, are struggling to at- tract and retain a quality work- force, according to the Deloitte and Manufacturing Institute study. 45% of manufacturers turned down opportunities due to a lack of workers.
Targeted Robotics Training Forward-thinking manufac-
turers are offering their employ- ees the opportunity to learn ro- botics techniques and mainte- nance to further their careers. One plastics manufacturer offers unlimited tuition reimbursement for robotics training and a career path into robotics operations or maintenance, depending on the employee’s preference. The strategy is working. The
plastics manufacturer runs three shifts and can scale up to run on weekends for rush jobs, offering his teams overtime pay and still achieving profitable margins on orders. By offering short-notice production runs over the week- end made more efficient with ro- botics, the plastics manufacturer is getting new customers as com- peting manufacturers in the area
can’t scale that fast to support last-minute orders. Competing with e-com-
merce, online retailing, and lo- gistics providers who offer 30 to 50% higher per-hour pay rates in remote regions of the U.S. for the same skills needed on shop floors is making robotics training even more of a priority. Focused train- ing initiatives that integrate ro- botics and automation skills show the potential to close the manufacturing skills gap. Em- ployees trained in programming, operating, and maintaining ro- botics become better equipped for in-demand roles later in their careers.
Getting Started Developing in-house robot-
ics skills doesn’t require massive investments. Companies without dedicated training facilities can still build workforce expertise in operating and optimizing robot- ics.
Consider the following ap-
proaches that are working for small and mid-tier manufactur- ers: Forward-thinking manufac- turers invest in robotics certifica- tions from organizations, includ- ing the Robotics Training Man- agement Organization (RTMO) and Robotics Online. Popular op- tions include Fanuc Handling Tool Operator Certification, Yaskawa Motoman Robot Opera- tor Certification, and FANUC America Robot Operations. Covering employee costs to
earn these credentials expands skills in key programming areas like motion control, mainte- nance, vision systems, and work cell integration. Employees be- come certified to code robots used on shop floors efficiently. Beyond certifications, man-
ufacturers are wise to fully fund continuous skills updating through robot OEM training courses, conferences like ATX West, and online programs. A small annual investment here can significantly boost program- ming productivity. Explore potential partner-
ships with local trade schools, community colleges, and univer- sities to utilize their robotics labs and STEM programs for afford- able hands-on training.
Continued on page 19
April/May, 2024
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112
