With a skills shortage causing the manufacturing era industry to lose $2.5 trillion in the next decade, and the time not being made up by the fact that quality employees can’t be found, how can we sustain this crumbling industry?
We need action, and we need action now. Something must give way, either the industry as a whole must move towards a solution, or we may be picking up the pieces.
With the continually shifting skillsets required by automation and the exit of many retiring highly skilled employees, there is a need to plug the hole in this sinking ship. Many have a misconceived view of jobs in the manufacturing industry, leaving a sour taste in the mouths of the younger generations.
So if they will not plug the gap, what is the solution?
The keys to the coming manufacturing era lie within the emergent technologies we have today. Virtual reality and augmented reality.
The Skill Shortage and its Costs
Corporations are driven by profits. They exist to provide a service and to gain profit from doing so. But can they continue to do so into the coming decade, without putting great thought into their employee training programs?
It is evident in this current economic climate that something is not quite right.
Let me put my finger on it. The manufacturing industries’ skills gap.
In a recent study, Deloitte found that “The skills gap may leave an estimated 2.4 million positions unfilled and put $2.5 trillion in manufacturing GDP at risk over the next decade.”
Furthermore, the time it takes to find new employees who have the necessary skills and experience is adding to this unprecedented lack.
It can take up to 2 months to find production workers with the necessary skills to fill a vacancy, and further, more than 4 months to acquire engineers and researchers for skilled roles.
In view of this, corporations will soon find this is not sustainable in the coming years.
So, how do we address this widening ravine between the employment numbers corporations expect and the reality that we are now facing?
I want to introduce virtual and augmented reality (VR and AR) into the picture. These are not only upcoming technologies for the manufacturing industry, they are already here. AR and VR can be implemented in the training regime for employees.
AR and VR merge the real world with training simulations that can greatly benefit the learning experience. Employees will be able to be trained on the job, faster and more effectively.
Now that we’ve taken a look at the skill shortage and a solution. Let’s dig deeper into the issues at hand.
What’s Causing the Skill Shortage?
Technology has always been beside humanity. As humanity has developed and reached further into the unknown, technology has grown and been shaped by humanity to catapult us toward these goals.
In this Fourth Industrial Revolution, technology is accelerating at an incredible rate, perhaps faster than we can keep up. Especially when it comes to employee learning.
Equally, the broad extent to which automation and AI have been implemented in the workplace has also changed the face of the manufacturing industry. What we once knew, we are having to relearn and reshape, improving our practices to better navigate this ever-changing industry.
Taking these issues into account, there are further problems, still. Our younger generations who are now wanting to birth their careers and start earning are looking elsewhere. To many of them, jobs in the manufacturing industry are unfashionable, low pay or unsafe.
In the manufacturing industry, we need to inspire our younger generation, as they are the very future that holds the life or death of the industry in its hands.
Finally, in this chain of problems is the retirement of baby boomers.
This vast wealth of knowledge, experience and wisdom will soon run dry and will have completely disappeared before we see out the decade.
If we could tap into this valuable resource, to create longevity for the industry and inspire younger interest, we’d be making headway.
Avoiding the Coming Manufacturing Crash
The top players in the manufacturing industry have already adopted these new methods of working. Technologies such as automation, mechatronics and robotics have been implemented in warehouses and factories across the globe for quite a few years now.
Considering this, there is going to be greater demand for skills concerning these robotics, and greater demand still, in the decades to come. With this new era of technological progress, the skills that employers were relying on in the past must come together with the digital skills that will usher in the future industry.
So how can we cement these two different sets of skills together?
Well, part of the solution can be found in AR and VR. These two technologies will be vital in the coming decade.
Users of this tech will be able to learn in a real-time, intuitive environment, suited to any potential situation that would occur in the workplace. With the correct knowledge and implementation, AR and VR will greatly enhance business practice as we know it.
How AR and VR Will Benefit the Manufacturing era Industry
As we see VR and AR widespread in the consumer world, the manufacturing industry should be taking notes and preparing to implement AR and VR in their business practice.
The emergent technologies that are virtual and augmented reality, will greatly benefit many corporations around the world in the services they provide.
This is because all businesses need highly trained employees.
These employees don’t appear out of thin air, they need to be trained. You can use AR and VR to train employees. Both AR and VR technologies will enhance the teaching process for employees, creating a quality end result employee.
Key Benefits to the Manufacturing Industry
- Employee learning will be enhanced through virtual settings common in the workplace.
- Through AR and VR, 3D modelling of many workplace machines can be created. Employees can use these models to gain greater knowledge through virtual interaction.
- The ins and outs of the machine no longer will require specialised technicians. 3D renderings of these machines will allow employees to understand the assembly.
- Employees will be able to carry out their work more efficiently through the combination of the real workplace and the virtual workplace, using AR.
- In this era of remote working, a remote technician can guide employees through using AR and VR. This will iron out any issues in learning.
As you can see, there are many great benefits when it comes to utilising augmented and virtual reality in employee training. Furthermore, revitalising your employee teaching content with AR and VR will save money right now and in the long term.
How AR and VR Will Reduce Costs
Your business will make substantial savings when you implement virtual and augmented reality. Equally, AR and VR increase the efficiency, quality and effectiveness of your employee education scheme.
This overall increase can see your business through for the long term and the decades ahead.
Every business wants growth. Well, the key is hidden in the training of your employees. What better way to solidify and strengthen your business practice than through the foundation that your employees bring? Virtual and augmented reality can provide this.
You’ve read what will happen if the industry doesn’t spur a change. You’ve seen how VR and AR can benefit businesses internationally.
Here is why you should implement virtual reality and augmented reality to your business. The savings it will bring.
Savings Brought Through AR and VR
- With AR and VR, employee education can be overseen through one system. Not only will this prioritise efficiency in the business, but there will be a decrease in costs as well.
- Training for employees takes time. AR and VR can speed up this process. Meaning employees can join the core of your company more quickly. This will equate to increased productivity through the effective management of time.
- Intuitive learning through virtual settings will bring a new level of quality to the education of employees. This increased level of training will bring an increased level of productivity.
- With remote technicians, the learning process will become even easier. This will expedite employee learning.
DitiApp.com
Our team at DitiApp.com are what you need to complete your project. Our multi-faceted team can provide expertise to implement virtual and augmented reality in your business today. Don’t wait to contact us.
