WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT


Sourcing skills for next-gen factories


Manufacturing firms must help inspire young engineers as production plants embrace digital technologies, Matthew Dale finds


A


s the economic upturn gains momentum in the mechanical and plant engineering sector, companies


are increasingly faced with a shortage of skilled personnel. Te German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association, the VDMA, and non-profit organisation, EngineeringUK, have both found evidence of a shortfall of skilled engineers in their respective countries. In a survey of 570 HR managers,


the VDMA found that 78 per cent see bottlenecks for finding experts with an academic qualification in a subject such as engineering, while 82 per cent see bottlenecks for skilled workers – employees that have completed vocational training. Te situation is expected to worsen in the next six to 12 months, with more than 40 per cent of respondents expecting fewer skilled workers and experts to be available. In the UK, the government’s latest


employer skills survey found that in the manufacturing sector, 36 per cent of vacancies were proving hard to fill because of applicants lacking appropriate skills, qualifications or experience, compared to the 24 per cent average across other sectors. According to EngineeringUK, there is a shortfall of up to 59,000 people in meeting the annual demand for 124,000 core engineering roles in the UK. Tere is also demand for 79,000 roles requiring a mixed application of engineering knowledge and skills, alongside other skill sets to be filled every year, between 2019 and 2024. It is also likely that as the world moves


to a more digital and green economy, this demand will increase over time. ‘Decarbonisation and digitalisation pose


major challenges for companies and require well-trained engineers,’ says Dr Franziska Šeimys, the VDMA’s educational policy


adviser. ‘In addition, the demographic need for replacements is rising sharply. In the field of STEM academics, 62,000 people will retire in Germany each year by 2023. Tis means that around two-thirds of graduates will be needed to meet the replacement demand alone.’ Bhavina Bharkhada, head of policy and


campaigns for Make UK, which represents the country’s manufacturers, also highlights the importance of addressing the skills shortage, with manufacturers increasingly taking advantage of digital technologies. ‘Tey have focussed particularly on robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and the Industrial Internet of Tings (IIoT),’ Bharkhada says. ‘Our research shows 78 per cent of


manufacturers find IoT beneficial to improving their resilience; AI, 73 per cent; and robotics, 76 per cent. Manufacturers see numerous benefits to investing in industrial digital technologies. However, the value of digitalisation adoption can only be realised if the right innovation, research and skill system support is put in place. Tis is vital to move companies from the preconception phase to the revolution phases. While we have seen progress in the last two years, we still have some way to go, and cracking our skills challenge will be central to this.’


Sparking interest in young minds How then is the skills gap being addressed and what can be done to reduce it? According to Šeimys, it is a central task


of VDMA member companies and the association to get young people excited about technical professions in mechanical and plant engineering. ‘Tis starts in school,’ she says. ‘Many of


our member companies cooperate closely with local schools to give young people insights into the company and show them


8 IMAGING AND MACHINE VISION EUROPE VISION YEARBOOK 2021/22


‘Te burden for workforce development is exceptionally high for small and medium manufacturers’


what challenging activities await them there. For example, they offer internships for schoolchildren or organise an open house to show what products the company offers and what professions are trained there. As an association, we support our members by promoting technical professions and informing young people, especially on the internet and in social media. With our YouTube channel, Talentmaschine, we show – with the help of influencers – how exciting technology can be.’ In the UK, organisations such as Make


UK are involved in a number of initiatives to address the skills shortage. For example, its Kickstart scheme is designed to get 16 to


@imveurope | www.imveurope.com


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