03
How are you navigating the
manufacturing skills gap?
Production levels and worker safety are at risk
Running a manufacturing business in today's
fast-paced, digital world is a daunting task.
As new technologies emerge, the competition
is getting steeper and employers are starting
to rethink the way they operate. According
to study findings by Deloitte and The
Manufacturing Industry, the manufacturing
sector is starting to reach an inflection point.
No one can deny the utility of manufacturing
when looking at how it drives economic growth.
But despite its role in many other industries,
manufacturers must still fight to stay viable by
challenging traditional production processes
and supporting greater innovation.
To stay relevant, manufacturers are increasingly
investing in Smart Factory initiatives as a way to
improve operations by introducing automation,
analytics, AI, Digital Twin technologies, and
more. But even though digital transformation
is a step in the right direction, they must also
contend with a growing skills gap. Today, there
is a lack of operators who bring the unique
blend of technical and physical skill sets
needed to ensure the success of a technology-
savvy shop floor environment. Companies are
instead having to figure out how to do more
with a limited pool of talent and resources.
Manufacturing continues to suffer
from an acute labor shortage
Looking back at 2021, employment across the manufacturing industry
was down by nearly 400,000 personnel from pre-pandemic levels.
Unfortunately, this skills gap has had a detrimental impact on the
sector, contributing to heightened workplace injuries, production
quality issues, property damage risk, and more.
1
Lack of resources may have an
impact on workplace accidents
Without the right skills on-site to maintain and monitor costly
equipment, manufacturers risk unsafe work environments that can
result in serious worker accidents as well as property damage. US
businesses already spend over one billion dollars a week on serious,
nonfatal injuries with the most common causes including handling
and being hit by objects in a workplace environment.
2
A lack of
technical know-how at a manufacturing site will only exacerbate those
damages, adversely affecting reputations and budgets.
