Manufacturing Transformation: Powering up for industry 4.0 through learning that works

The global pandemic has sparked changes in almost every area imaginable, including ones we did not anticipate. One of these has been the acceleration of the once-imminent Fourth Industrial Revolution, a period that seemed distant but has pushed the world much sooner than anticipated. One of the main elements of Industry 4.0 is the automation of manual tasks and the transfer of these responsibilities from people to robots and machines. However, the introduction of this technology does not imply the replacement of human workers. Instead, it calls for the development of new skills to thrive in the evolving manufacturing landscape. While manufacturers may focus on recruiting efforts to match the needs of this digital revolution along supply chains, it's worthwhile to explore the advantages of upskilling and reskilling current employees, which can save time and money.

The importance of Industry 4.0 and Digital Talent

Yeshawant Kumar Kini, Head of Human Resources at Daimler India, stressed the need for Industry 4.0 during a panel discussion on "Upskill to Transform" hosted by Business Insider. He stated that both strategic leadership and digital talent play crucial roles in this transformative era. He said, “Talent can be viewed from two perspectives: the strategic portion which is leadership, and the other digital talent. We need good leaders who can better navigate the digital landscape, as well as skilled digital workers (experts in their specific domain)."

Developing the right skills

In the process of reskilling and upskilling, the need for people skills has become increasingly vital. DCM Sriram's Hameed Jung, VP of Human Resources and Head of Group Learning highlighted the importance of emotional intelligence, creativity and networking skills in this changing landscape, "As technology advances, so does the need for people skills," he added.

Companies recognise that employees are the backbone of their success. However, a skills gap can hinder productivity, increase labour costs, and leave employees feeling left behind. Hence the need to create a culture that caters to the development of employees is paramount to drive personal growth and better performance. "Developing a culture that provides your employees with the skills and chances to upskill and develop themselves is critical, especially in an ever-changing industry," says Hindalco Sr. Vice President Krishnan Subramanian. " But when a new skill enters the market, our minds tend to scatter; it's important to distil the right skills relevant to us and work on those things which associate with our core being; when we focus on what relates to our core being, we automatically want to get better at it," he added.

Understanding Industry 4.0 and the digital role

"To get better at skills it is however critical to understand the concept of Industry 4.0 and the role of digital in the growth and development of industries," says Yeshawant Kumar Kini, Head, HR, Daimler India. According to him, one way to achieve this was by partnering with the government and academic institutions, which would help remap the skilling area for individuals, thereby industries, and finally society as a whole.

Dulles Krishnan, Coursera's MD Enterprise, India and ANZ acknowledged the rapidly changing nature of job requirements meant that we understand the need for continuous learning as well. “The content related to each role and responsibility today is most likely to change in the next five years, given the rate at which technology is growing by the day,” he said.

Breaking it down to bite-sized learning

With technology automating repetitive tasks, entry level positions are evolving into higher level roles that require extensive reskilling or upskilling. However, in today’s fast-paced world, professionals often find themselves overwhelmed with work. In the process, they struggle with dedicating enough time to learning and upskilling that is crucial for career success. The stakes are rising. So how can you fit learning into your busy schedule, when you barely have time to watch your favourite web series after work? To this, Hindustan Zinc's Dy CHRO, Manmeet Singh said, "While it can be difficult to look through content in depth, this is where bite-sized content, such as that created by Coursera, comes into play and works its magic on us. With so much knowledge available, how can we determine what is accurate and authentic? This is a question I've always had, and it's when I work with trustworthy resources and websites to keep my skills current and relevant."

In the era of Industry 4.0, continuous learning and upskilling are the building blocks for success in the manufacturing sector. Rather than fearing the impact of automation, individuals should embrace the opportunities it presents by developing new skills. By fostering such a culture of learning, organisations can enhance productivity, reduce skill gaps and empower their workforce.

Disclaimer: This article is generated and published by the Insider Studios team. You can get in touch with them on insiderstudios@businessinsider.in