As the American manufacturing industry builds itself back into a powerful economic force, industry professionals are discovering a large manufacturing skills gap in the current workforce. If you are looking to rise to the top of the rapidly changing field, it is crucial to develop skills that will be useful in next-generational production facilities.
One of the most important manufacturing skills for future industry stars is technological competency. In order to stay competitive in the global market, American manufacturing plants need to invest in the latest manufacturing technology to boost production without incurring additional labor costs. Whether you are planning to be an engineer or a production worker, technology is certain to be a crucial component of your job. The manufacturing plants of the future are likely to run on automated, computerized systems; this is a direct contrast to traditional, human-operated systems. As a result, every manufacturing worker will need basic computer skills, at the very minimum.
Modern production equipment uses computers for precision cuts rather than human-operated gears. Many of these machines employ industry standard CNC (computerized numerical control) systems, which are operated with specific codes. According to WBEZ Chicago, CNC equipment can cost millions of dollars, so many employers will require at least a basic CNC certification of every floor worker. To that end, CNC coding is one of the most important manufacturing skills for the modern worker.
If you are looking to be a true superstar, your technological manufacturing skills must be considerably more advanced. From an engineering standpoint, robotics and automation knowledge will be crucial for the design of efficient, safe systems. Workers will also need to understand the latest manufacturing technology developments, like 3D printing and other additive manufacturing systems.
High-output manufacturing is a numbers game, and future superstars must have a solid grasp of mathematics to excel in the field. To stay competitive, next-generation manufacturing plants are expected to be more responsive to consumer demand. Workers may need to switch jobs quickly, work with tight tolerances and carefully control output. To ensure accuracy and efficiency, your manufacturing skills must include trigonometry, algebra and, in more advanced settings, calculus.
Despite the move toward more technologically advanced systems, manufacturing workers must also develop strong professional communication skills. Next-generation manufacturing development relies on collaboration and knowledge sharing between engineers, managers and ground-level workers. If you plan to be an effective player in the industry, communication is just as important as hard manufacturing skills. Whether you are leaving notes for the next worker on your shift or developing a more efficient system, your ability to communicate clearly will be a considerable asset.
Though the American manufacturing industry is growing, the current skills gap is slowing progress. By developing the manufacturing skills that will be crucial to future production plants, you can cement your future as a key industry player.
(Photo courtesy of Surachai at FreeDigitalPhotos.net)
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