May 2020
MiMfg Magazine
19
Addressing a Different Type of Talent
Shortage: The Soft Skills Gap
By Kara Kucinski • The Center
A massive talent shortage is posing a great
challenge for manufacturers as they seek to hire
workers with the experience and technical knowledge
needed to fill open positions in their facilities. But,
now, a lack of soft skills or interpersonal skills
among candidates is making it even more difficult
to find the kind of worker that will help their
companies succeed in the long run.
Many believe soft skills don’t matter as much in
a manufacturing career, as technical knowledge is the
main focus of most work in the industry. However,
it is clear that “soft” skills such as time management,
organization, communication and leadership are
essential when it comes to being a successful and
well-rounded manufacturing employee.
Different skills can be applied in a manufacturing
setting to foster collaboration and support improvements
in productivity, delivery and employee morale, including:
• Problem solving. The ability to think critically
about problems to identify root causes and
counter-measures is a necessity in all careers,
including manufacturing. In fact, 77 percent of
employers say they favor candidates who can
think critically. This skill is regularly used in
manufacturing, both with conflict resolution
between workers and with troubleshooting issues
in production. For example, workers need
problem solving skills in order to determine why
a machine broke down or why orders are
consistently missing deadlines.
• Leadership. Making conscious efforts to support
inclusion, teamwork and motivation among co-
workers will result in more collaboration and stronger
relationships within the team. This, in turn, will
support continuous improvement initiatives in
the facility as teams will work better together to
brainstorm innovative ways to improve operations.
Taking the time to develop such leadership and
interpersonal skills — whether it comes naturally
or must be learned — will provide greater results
to the organization and open doors for more
leadership roles in the future.
• Communication. Lack of effective communication
skills can be largely detrimental to a worker’s
success — and the success of the organization.
No matter how technically talented an employee
might be, performance can be hindered if they
do not have the communication skills needed for
everyday interactions at work. Misunderstandings
can occur when dealing with customers, or,
worse yet, when explaining procedures for
operating machinery to other workers.
• Adaptability. In manufacturing, it is essential
that workers are able to think on their feet and
modify plans to adapt to disruptions or changes
in production. This is especially true with the rise
of Industry 4.0, as workers must stay up to date
on the latest process improvements and be able to
quickly adjust to any new practices or equipment.
When looking to hire or promote workers,
consider choosing the candidate with the strongest
soft skills. While technical skills will fill immediate
gaps in operations, soft skills will help both employers
and employees find success for years to come.
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Kara Kucinski is a marketing specialist for The Center
(formerly the Michigan Manufacturing Technology
Center). She may be reached at 888-414-6682 or
[email protected].
Sources:
www.snhu.edu/about-us/newsroom/2018/04/what-are-soft-skills
www.the-center.org/Our-Services/Advanced-Technology/Industry-4-0