Lead your people through Industry 4.0
Author : Neil Lewin is a Festo Didactic Learning and Development Consultant
03 May 2018
What’s the biggest barrier to Industry 4.0? For the majority it is still about a real understanding of changes that can be made. This isn’t just about whole scale technological change. It’s about the small tweaks that can be implemented to get your product manufacturing and production facilities ready for Industry 4.0.
When speaking to one Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) last week, they had just been unsuccessful in a tender for a large-scale end user. Disappointed didn’t quite sum it up. Luckily they got feedback. And the deciding factor was that they hadn’t addressed Industry 4.0. No end-user is prepared to commit budget without knowing that the investment they make will be long-term. That means that OEMs need to demonstrate the changes they are making to their equipment to ensure future sustainability.
And these changes are not going to be just limited to one area. Multi-disciplinary teams need to be formed so that there’s a cross-pollination of ideas for improvements. For instance, when an OEM was building a CAD model of their machines, they didn’t consider sending off the final version of the drawing to the end-user and missed a real opportunity. Creating a digital twin of the factory is critical for Industry 4.0. Then manufacturers can start to analyse how different machines can interconnect.
These types of changes have value. They set you on the road to Industry 4.0. Below are four steps you can take now to lead your people through Industry 4.0.
1. Build understanding
Do your people really know what Industry 4.0 is and what it means to your business? When I asked about the barriers to Industry 4.0, lack of awareness is still up there. Everyone in your organisation needs to have a real understanding. This might be running training courses internally to get your people on the same page. Perhaps followed up by regular knowledge sharing about what’s happening in their specific areas of expertise.
In the ‘Made Smarter Review 2017’ there were some worrying statistics. According to the Engineering Employers Federation, only a third (31 percent) of manufacturers or their members understand or are familiar with the concept of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Less than half (42 percent) were unfamiliar, the remaining being undecided.
Germany has been at the forefront of Industry 4.0 where currently almost half the companies in the manufacturing sector (46 percent) use Industry 4.0 applications, while another 19 percent have specific plans to implement them. This is mirrored in the US, where 53 percent of manufacturers said adopting Industry 4.0 is a priority.
The UK needs to get to grips with Industry 4.0, especially with the pace of change and new emerging competitors. Faster, younger and more dynamic organisations are chasing market share and research has shown that the lifespan of top companies has been reduced from 61 years in 1958 to just 18 years today. Having a real understanding of Industry 4.0 is vital.
2. Change mindset
To identify change requires your people to change their mindset. They need to be focused on what can be done in the short, medium and long-term. And then the company needs to support them to drive through the changes.
When working with manufacturers, we often refer to the guidelines published by the VDMA which Festo were involved with. These guidelines look at the readiness of organisations across Products and Projection. In each of these there are five process steps which are the starting basis for companies to develop their own ideas for Industry 4.0. ¬
They recommend a project team that is responsible for each element. Each project team is then responsible for informing the organisation about the results of each phase and bringing the rest of the team up to the same level of knowledge.
3. Upskill for Industry 4.0
As well as having awareness and a plan for Industry 4.0, you need to know the skills your people have internally. Do remember that these skills might not be related to their current job. For instance, one of your maintenance engineers might develop apps in their own time. It has been known to happen.
Then it’s worth considering the skills you could need to recruit and whether you know enough about the new roles to recruit effectively. For example, do you know how to interview Data Scientists? Do you know the competencies they will require in the role? And you’ll need to be aware that competition for these skills is tough. There are currently 3,277 jobs for Data Scientists available on just one jobs board in the UK. So making your company and your offer attractive is a crucial step to getting the best talent on board.
4. Engage your people
By involving your people in planning for Industry 4.0 you will increase engagement. During the workshops above you’ll be able to identify the champions and ambassadors of Industry 4.0 who will be critical to spreading the message and increasing engagement across your organisation.
You’ll also be able to see the sceptics who might need some more convincing. Hopefully you’ll not have any saboteurs on your team.
We’ve developed the Three Dimensions of Employee Engagement on which you can measure your people. Personal Satisfaction is where an individual is satisfied in his or her role. The second axis is Needs Alignment, where the needs of the organisation and the individual are aligned. The third is Drive. This is the personal drive and energy of employees. A disengaged employee with low drive will be less of a disruptive influence than one with high drive who is keen to convert others to his or her own set of beliefs and opinions.
Industry 4.0 is just like any other change product. Build the vision of where you want to get to. Break this down into a manageable plan. Look at the skills and resources that you need to get you where you want to be. Engage your people and let them get excited about the journey you’re on and what the future holds for them.
Festo Training & Consulting runs training workshops to equip manufacturers with the knowledge and skills to implement Industry 4.0. Bespoke courses and in-company courses are available.
Find out more here http://www.festo-didactic.co.uk/gb-en/open-courses/all-open-courses-dates/industry-4.0/?fbid=Z2IuZW4uNTUwLjE3LjI4LjI3MzYx
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