SUPPLEMENT SUSTAINABILITY IN MANUFACTURING
CLOSING THE SUSTAINABILITY
SKILLS GAP Jocelyn Golding, OEM Industrial SI & IAD channel marketing
manager, Schneider Electric, examines why sustainability is looming as a critical skill the supply chain needs to achieve Net Zero
and innovation, there is one common goal shared: sustainability. As the halfway mark between the Millennium and the 2050 Net Zero target, 2025 is a perfect milestone for businesses to set a sustainability strategy that accounts for skills as well as technology. However, there is no single solution to
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industrial sustainability and no single job role that is responsible – sustainability skills should not be limited to people with ‘sustainability’ in their title. We are seeing a monumental effort from
customers, associations and policy makers to encourage the next-generation workforce towards a career in industry and close the skills gap. That same effort now must be applied to sustainability if the sector is going to reach Net Zero.
SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY CHAIN Sustainability as a concept is widely known and accepted; as is sustainability and its business case – business owners and operators know that reducing waste and improving efficiency will benefit sustainability and boost the bottom line. However, there is untapped potential in creating a sustainability-driven workforce throughout the industrial supply chain. Here’s how an understanding of climate science will deliver value:
• Machine Builders OEMs Machine builders and OEMs are often at the forefront of technology capabilities. They are well versed in leveraging advanced capabilities to deliver the best asset possible in their
hile the goals of every industrial business and stakeholder will always vary, with priorities tied to digitalisation
chosen sector. This level of understanding relies on constant study and accreditation, showing their commitment to upskilling their workforce. Applying this to sustainability will add a competitive advantage to an OEM, positioning themselves as a key supporter of their end users’ sustainability goals.
• System Integrators Much like OEMs, system integrators are already advanced in digital transformation, using their expertise to solve customer challenges and often connecting disparate systems. Aligning this knowledge and understanding of the sector with sustainability will put system integrators in a position for repeat business, working closely with customers throughout their decarbonisation journey, linking business and sustainability goals together.
“Sustainability isn’t tied to a single
product or activity; building it in at the design stage will
ensure Net Zero goals can be reached”
• End users / OT professionals Operations roles in the industrial ecosystem are often very broad and intense. OT teams are tasked with delivering improvements in energy efficiency or reducing waste, which will of course improve overall sustainability. Operators who commit to sustainability by understanding scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, energy/emissions intensity, and asset lifecycle assessments, can gain context on how their activities align with the great climate system. Operators can then
32 DESIGN SOLUTIONS - SUPPLEMENT JULY/AUGUST 2025
look beyond their responsibilities, using sustainability knowledge to anticipate future changes and play a more active role in the decarbonisation of the industrial supply chain.
• Design Engineers Sustainability isn’t tied to a single product or activity; building it in at the design stage will ensure Net Zero goals can be reached. Design Engineers are already developing concepts for future industrial operations – an understanding of circular economy principles will equip them with the crucial skills to align customer objectives with sustainability goals.
• Support functions like marketing, IT, legal, finance and planning It can be easy to see sustainability as outside your job role if you are not directly involved, with limited capacity to make changes. However, anyone working in an industrial enterprise should see sustainability learning as a personal responsibility, just as the United Nations has identified that decarbonisation is the responsibility of all citizens. Understanding climate science and regulation will make a positive impact in achieving sustainability and setting best practices. It requires an ecosystem where every employee can contribute to sustainability and play a part in meeting the tightening standards for environmental reporting.
MAKING AN IMPACT While the skills gap is a growing concern, the sustainability skills gap can be closed without disruption as long as there is a collective effort. Every member of the industrial workforce can make an impact on sustainability no matter where their day-to-day job role sits. From single facilities to sprawling global enterprises, everyone can support the journey to Net Zero, defining a baseline and tracking performance against sustainability targets that are rooted in climate understanding.
Schneider Electric
www.se.com
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