A connected workforce is the key to manufacturing success

The manufacturing skills gap is projected to leave more than 2 million jobs unfilled by 2030, costing the US economy as much as $1 trillion, according to a report by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute. Experts predicted that with the coming of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, automation and advanced technologies would rapidly displace factory jobs and workers world-wide. When COVID-19 hit, about 1.4 million people lost manufacturing jobs. Although the industry has hired back many workers, hundreds of thousands of positions remain unfilled.

Digital collaboration tools are primed to play a critical role in enabling workers to tap into the collective knowledge of the enterprise, solve problems with experts remotely, and turn internet of things data from the shop floor into lasting value. Secondly, the emerging workforce will need to manage Industrial Internet of Things devices, use analytical tools to inform their decisions, and oversee technologically advanced operations—while keeping the lights on and training the next generation.

Factory workers are an integral part of this journey. After all, better enterprise resource planning systems, manufacturing execution systems, computerized maintenance management systems, robots, conveyors, and machinery still require people to make everything run. We can’t deny the fact that there are several benefits of a connected workforce in manufacturing. According to the Department of Energy, 80% to 90% of downtime is caused by human error. But the concern is how to reduce human error, manufacturers rely on standard operating procedures recorded in paper manuals or orally communicated by employees. But with the current labour shortages, and with the rapid evolution of manufacturing technologies, organizations can’t rely on paper and institutional knowledge. Outdated SOPs can even cause dangerous workplace conditions.

A connected workforce that leverages digitally recorded SOPs will find it easier to capture and relay information and enables your team to drive better action on the factory floor. A connected workforce is the key to manufacturing success—enabling your team to drive better action on the factory floor. With all information and feedback captured in one platform, built-in predictive intelligence analyzes trends and uncovers opportunities for improvement. 

Dr. Deepak Kumar Sahu, President & CEO, VARINDIA