Intelligent CIO Middle East Issue 36 | Page 93

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////// INTELLIGENT VERTICAL: MANUFACTURING DIGITALLY TRANSFORMING THE MANUFACTURING WORKFORCE Technologies like modern ERP and MES solutions are fast becoming the foundation for Digital Transformation in manufacturing. They do these by functioning as the fabric that connects people, processes, data and things in an intelligent manner, says Andy Coussins, senior vice president and head of international, Epicor Software. I t has been suggested that over one third of skills considered important in today’s workforce are likely to no longer be relevant in the near future. Manufacturers will soon require quite different expertise from their workforce to master new technology. In fact, according to a 2018 report by Accenture Strategy, businesses that fail to upskill their workforces, so they can effectively collaborate with modern machines and technology, face the risk of missing out on revenue and growth. Challenging and training employees to acquire new expertise can be a cost-effective www.intelligentcio.com way to manage staff resourcing, provide a boost to employee engagement, and ultimately have a positive impact on a company’s productivity. To this end, there are several areas manufacturers should consider when reviewing the training needs of their workforce and providing opportunities for upskilling. Breaking down barriers between departments With the current trend for automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies, it is time to re-imagine work practices and stop relying on working in operational silos that “ BY USING THE INSIGHTS THAT DATA FROM THESE SYSTEMS CAN OFFER, BUSINESSES CAN UNCOVER OPPORTUNITIES TO EDUCATE THE WORKFORCE AT EVERY LEVEL. INTELLIGENTCIO 93