Manufacturers should upskill current employees with supporting technologies to beat the skill shortage, according to the CEO of a 3D simulation software development company.
Mikko Urho, CEO of Visual Components said: “Deployment of robots, alongside digital solutions such as OLP and simulation software, can train employees in state-of-the-art solutions and also encourage new talent to join the sector.”
His comments come on the back of new research that shows more than a third of UK manufacturers say hiring new talent is one of their biggest challenges, according to research by developer of Visual Components.
These skills shortages look set to worsen as businesses expect 25% of their workforce to leave over the next five years, and over half don’t have a solution to deal with lost knowledge when skilled professionals leave or retire. Many are also failing to bring in new talented hires to replace the ones who leave, with half having not yet built relationships with educational institutions to build a pipeline of new talent into the business.
In the midst of too few skilled employees in the sector, 81% believe that their current solutions allow their workers to be at the centre of the production process, but only 46% are training them in the use of new technologies. Prospective talent is also likely to be deterred by the fact that almost a third of factory machinery is legacy equipment, with the younger generation more accustomed to digital solutions.
Current employees are largely enthusiastic to adopt new solutions, with 78% of respondents stating there’s no hesitancy among their workers to make use of new platforms. Upskilling is also the highest priority for UK manufacturers, with 60% of French respondents stating the same.
