What is the required Skillset for “New-Collar Jobs” in Manufacturing?

Factories today encompass the trending tools like 3D Printing, robotics, laser cutting machines, generative design tools, virtual reality, and augmented reality. All these tools are interconnected and form a network of devices. Now, to operate these highly advanced manufacturing tools, organizations require skilled personnel or the new-collar workforce.

However, manufacturers at present face major skills shortages in their factories as the workforce is incompetent in handling advanced machineries, such as computer numerical control (CNC) machining stations, lasers, automation, and robotics. This large-scale digitalization necessitates workforces with more advanced skills. The skillset of this workforce must include:

  • New collar workers must equip themselves with digital skills which are required for the working and maintenance of software and tools, such as CAD files and programs, 3D printers and robots.
  • Manufacturers expect the new collar workers to be skilled in cloud computing maintenance, security analysis and testing, data mining and statistical analysis, data storage management, and user interface operational and maintenance skills.
  • New-collar jobs require individuals to possess problem solving, critical thinking, and deep thinking skills to resolve the complex organizational problems with ease.

All in all, if individuals aspire for having a successful career in manufacturing industry, they must acquire the skills for new-collar jobs and accelerate their career growth.

Engineering Education and Job Satisfaction

A couple of years back, a bachelor’s degree in engineering was assumed to be enough to achieve success in the career. But, with more competitiveness in the industries, the employers now seek candidates that hold advanced degrees in engineering. These degrees also helps the professional to move into job roles that are more challenging, highly paid, and with more responsibilities.

Recent research about degrees and job roles stated that:

  • Bachelor’s degree was the most common degree across the technical industries.
  • Master’s degree held the second highest position.
  • An exception was seen in the education sector that held a higher number of doctoral degrees.

Degree Types and Job Roles

Degrees plays a significant role in the employee job responsibilities. A match between the job roles and education is thus important for success. Therefore, people who wish to succeed in their career opt for advanced degrees in their field. It is often observed that:

  • Most of the successful people working in the same field of their education had both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree.
  • These professionals persuaded for a higher level of education to gain a deeper understanding of their fields and advance on their career paths.

Job Satisfaction

It is one of the most motivating factors to go for an advanced degree.

  • Most of the professionals believe that having a masters or a PhD degree helps them excel in their career.
  • It helps to gain an improvedbreadth of knowledge and expertise in their filed.
  • It gives professionals a higher level of job satisfaction and enjoyment of their tasks.
  • Lastly, it offers a high range of salary which gives them a feeling of satisfaction.

Why are Robots Shaped like Humans?

According to the Greek mythology, it is said that we make and imagine our inventions to always look like us. We even imagine an alien or a ghost that look like us. This can be the probable reason why we design robots that look like humans. Technology that is now making the robots intelligent is also teaching them how to be humans. As humans, we try to align our imageries and take inspirations from our environment, which also inspires us to design robots in a humanoid shape.

Many factors may govern our imagination of a human-like robot:

  • To impose the same constraints on them, as the world imposes on us.
  • The closer the design is to humans, the better it will navigate and manipulate the human world.
  • To make them interact with us as we interact with each other.

After being able to design a humanoid, we are still far from the technology that will allow these humanoids to adopt the human abilities completely. If we ever reach such a level of technology, we will give rise to a new species, for whom the human race will simply be like a cannon-fodder in military combat.

Fourth Industrial Revolution: How Engineers can Stay Prepared

Like the first industrial revolution, which introduced the use of steam in the production industry. The second which included electric power, and the third that introduced IT, the fourth industrial revolution is set to bring new changes in the field of technology. Although it is difficult to define its possible alignment with the engineering world, we can expect some drastic changes in the events and be prepared to embrace them.

Here are five ways in which the engineers can prepare themselves for it:

  • They need to be more attentive and constantly upgrade their skills to stay competitive.
  • Engineering professionals have to look for ways that include low production costs and high-profit returns.
  • It is important for them to stay continuously updated with the technology.
  • The engineers need to stay open to the changing communication mechanisms and technology.
  • The revolution may change the ways in which work gets done, therefore staying flexible towards work is important for the engineering professionals.

Skills which every engineer should have

For those who want to enhance their personality/ outlook and to impress their supervisors, make use of these tips and make this task a less daunting one.

Humility

Always be humble. Acting like a know-it-all could strike the wrong chord during negotiations or any discussion. Humility is important at all points of life and also the best way to connect with others and  drive conversations in different directions.

Personal Identity

Create your very own brand and work towards improving the same. It can go a long way in enhancing your career and professional outlook. Personal identity is the best style to express one- selves and his or her working style.

Positivity

Any engineer would be expected to show utmost resilience at all points of time. Instead of focusing on negativity, if one chooses to believe in positivity, their overall personal and professional outlook will become better and widespread.

Apart from the skills, your superiors, colleagues, peers or anyone with whom you work will try to associate you with the way you communicate or express yourself with them. So, take things on an easy and work on the essentials before you can come to any conclusion.