What will the future industry require from professionals?
New factories require people with broad vision and flexibility for change
The constant growth of automation is changing the scenario found in industrial companies. Soon, this transformation tends to be even more visible, as technology advances inside the sector, especially in the area of robotics. The changes, however, are not restricted to equipment and machines: a new production also requires a new professional profile.
The industry professional of the future should increase his knowledge on the area of Information Technology (IT). This point is essential, since the productive equipment will be increasingly interconnected. Another key skill will be mastery of foreign languages, especially English. Many equipment are imported, so this language skill becomes necessary.
Knowing how to perform a critical data analysis is also an essential knowledge for the professional of the future. The so-called "smart factories" organize production by themselves and offer all the productive information of the company. It will be up to the professional to evaluate if this automated intelligence is appropriate to the company's needs or if programming adjustments are required.
It is important that the industry professional of the future behaves positively in relation to innovation. People who like news and new technologies tend to do well in this market that is being designed. Professionals with aversion to change, who always like things in the same way, are likely to face difficulties in this new reality.
New industry needs union in the working areas
Some current activities in the industry tend to be extinguished in the future. For example, professions with manual labor functions that produce equipment of equal features should cease to exist. The machines are able to take the place of this professional who performs functions with repetition, serially.
On the other hand, IT and Engineering professionals will gain more space, but they will need to have a more general view. An electrical engineer needs to have some knowledge of mechanics and IT. The IT professional needs to have automation knowledge and so on.
More and more there is a need for areas to come together and, as a result, professionals will have their knowledge multiplied. New technologies require this kind of skill.
A culture of innovation must be created at all levels
Companies that seek to fit the industry of the future must apply this change from the top down, which means that the managers themselves must lead this new reality. Manners of management must be appropriate to the new scenario. Without this, the transformation in companies will be compromised.
In the past, the manager was responsible for controlling the productivity data of equipment and workers. In the new industry, the technological system performs these functions and it is up to the leader to promote collaboration between people.
Therefore, the company that will achieve full adaptation is not only the one that has the financial investment in equipment resources, but also the one that knows how to invest in the behavioral area of its employees. It is necessary to create a culture of innovation and modernization at all levels of the company.
by Fábio Tiburi
