A significant skills gap in the manufacturing industry has worsened due to triple factors: the 2020 pandemic, the rapid pace of technological innovation, and an aging, retiring workforce. Fewer new workers are entering the field with the necessary expertise to replace experienced technicians. Manufacturers today must find ways to bridge the skills gap.
Below, we consider solutions to mend the skills gap in manufacturing:
Real-Time Knowledge-Sharing Tools
Experienced technicians hold an invaluable wealth of knowledge at risk of being lost when they retire. Manufacturers must thus embed expert knowledge into digital tools and platforms, ensuring that newer technicians can easily access best practices and technical insights at any time.
Guided Workflows
Tools like augmented reality (AR) and knowledge management systems preserve and share expertise. AR applications allow senior technicians to create interactive guides for complex repairs, which less experienced field technicians can access.
Digital knowledge bases also help document troubleshooting tips, maintenance, protocols, and customer-specific service histories.
On-the-Job Learning Opportunities
Manufacturers can adopt mixed-learning strategies that combine hands-on learning workshops with e-learning modules and interactive knowledge-sharing platforms to verify that technicians stay current with new systems and products.
Mobile Devices
Mobile devices provide field technicians with step-by-step guidance and AR support for complex tasks. Mobile technology helps level the playing field, allowing technicians with less experience to execute repairs and installations with minimal errors and improved service quality.
While the manufacturing skills gap may seem daunting, valuable tools — real-time knowledge-sharing, guided workflows, on-the-job learning, and mobile devices — alleviate the situation.
Read the full Copperberg and Gomocha whitepaper, Unlocking Hidden Efficiencies: A Blueprint for Field Service Success in Manufacturing.