Fachkräfte für Industrie 4.0
Die Anforderungen an die Qualifikation verändern auch die Methoden zum Erwerb entsprechender Kompetenzen; Methoden, die in Zukunft von Aus- und Weiterbildungsanbietern weltweit gefragt sein werden.
Skilled Worker Development for Industry 4.0
The terms Industry 4.0 and Smart Factories signify a profound shift in the economy that will permanently change the world of work. The new technical opportunities provided by the automated control and the networking of work processes are having a far-reaching impact on the qualification requirements of specialists. These requirements alter the methods used in the transfer of expertise in turn; methods for which, in future, there will be worldwide demand from initial and continuing education providers.
The digitalised world of work is changing the development of skilled workers
The technical integration of cyber-physical systems within production and logistics is progressing at an unstoppable rate. The Internet of Things and Services involves 'smart devices' with embedded computers and, increasingly, industrial processes will be run by devices such as these which will also communicate with one another. This development has far-reaching consequences for all business areas and company processes. However, this can only function at all if there is a supply of appropriately qualified skilled workers. In order to remain internationally competitive, all companies have to meet this challenge - both in Germany and across the world.
Skilled worker competencies for Industry 4.0
The regional supply of skilled workers could become the greatest challenge
economies and companies are facing. Experts believe that, by 2020, there will be
a global shortage of 40 million employees in production.
The demands on
workforce and management increase in line with the tasks involved. Previously,
activities related to manufacturing and maintenance have been of prime
importance in industrial production. In the future, the production organisation
will assume an increasing key role. This is performed with the aid of production
controls based on cybernetic support systems and intelligent sensor technology.
High-performance hardware components make it possible to handle larger amounts
of data from the production processes. The information obtained supports
employees far more effectively than previously in medium to long-term decision
making with respect to the planning and adaptation of production
processes.
Taken as a whole, the stronger interlinking of a large number
of occupations using modern technology will result in increased permeability
between areas of education and training that were previously separated. Skilled
workers of the Industry 4.0 generation will become all-rounders with interfacing
expertise. In future, a broad merging of areas of work traditionally classed as
either blue collar (production workers) or white collar (knowledge workers) will
take place. The age of the grey collar worker is dawning. This also means that,
in future, companies will not locate in areas where wages are lowest and
subsidies are highest, but instead in areas where they are most likely to find
the qualified specialists which are right for them.
Digital learning content and learning methods
Exactly how occupational profiles will need to be changed, extended or
recreated for Industry 4.0 is currently the subject of much scientific
consideration. However, what is clear today is that Smart Factories can only
operate on the basis of Smart Education. This means that, for all job profiles,
a basic awareness of the importance of digitalization needs to be generated
among all learners. All employees need to be introduced to networked thinking
with a much greater focus than ever before.
Advancing digitalization in
companies demands initial and continuing vocational education that is more
strongly information technology (IT)-based and oriented. IT competence plays a key role in virtually all
areas of employment. Its significance will continue to grow, although not to the
same extent in all occupations. Expertise in how to deal with hardware and
software will be demanded at a greater number of qualification levels than
before.
The learning content required is also changing the way in which
expertise is transferred. Learning is increasingly IT-supported. Digital media
offers flexible forms of distance learning and an increasing amount of
(accessible) education and training materials are available on-line. Today,
learning is no longer time and location-dependent and can take place at
virtually any time and in any place.
This results in opportunities for
new didactic concepts and pedagogic approaches. The different ways we use media
and the broad availability of innovative technical options create new
opportunities to improve and individualize the design of the learning process.
Learning is becoming more collaborative, more mobile, more relaxed, more
modular, more experience-oriented, more multi-sensory and more interactive.
Education and training sequences must fit within this new learning culture.
Online learning, learning using data goggles or in online communities will add
to, if not replace, classical learning methods.
The changes in the
economy are taking place increasingly quickly as innovation cycles are
shortening. The demands on employees over the course of their professional life
are changing ever more rapidly. Software knowledge is updated entirely in the
space of two to five years. In the future, workers will have to adapt even more
flexibly to new requirements. This results in a greater need to update
qualifications on an ongoing basis. We have to anticipate that the amount of
continuing education and training required will increase.
Digital up-scaling of education and training
Companies are increasingly seeking to take advantage of the young learners'
enthusiasm for modern communication technologies. In order to develop and expand
an appropriate qualification strategy in their businesses, many companies are
seeking initial and continuing education and training partners with a clear
competency in the area of IT-supported learning. Today, education managers and
IT experts are in collaboration on a number of projects to turn innovative
models of knowledge acquisition into actual learning experiences. 'Learning
factories 4.0' and 'Azubiclouds' (cloud-based provision for trainees) are
already in use today.
Demand exists for practically-oriented learning
content presented in a digital form in many of the world's economies. At this
year's showcase for the sector, 'Learntec', more than 200 exhibitors came
together to present their qualification solutions for Industry 4.0. Many of
these providers cooperate with industrial companies operating at a global level
who are training their employees around the world using digital teaching tools
and methods.
The iMOVE education and training export initiative from the
Federal Ministry of Education and Research brings together within their network
a large number of German training companies with a range of options for
competence development to support Industry 4.0.
- Author: Silvia Niediek, iMOVE
- Published in: Education Guide 2016/17 – Partnerships and Perspectives of Arab-German Cooperation
Education Guide 2016/17
Der Education Guide 2016/17 – Partnerships and Perspectives of Arab-German
Cooperation wird von der Ghorfa Arab-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce herausgegeben.
Die kostenpflichtige Publikation erscheint zum 7. Arabisch-Deutschen Bildungsforum und kann bei der Ghorfa bestellt werden.
Quelle: iMOVE-Artikel im Education Guide 2016/17 – Partnerships and Perspectives of Arab-German Cooperation