Executive Summary: Future of the Technician Workforce Study

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Rapid technological advancements and increasing global competition are creating the need for a new generation of highly skilled technicians with a robust understanding of product lifecycles and supply chain dynamics as well as expertise in key manufacturing trends including automation, data exchange, robotics, artificial intelligence, IoT platforms, and other aspects of Industry 4.0. Many institutions are developing workforce development strategic plans to remain competitive; several manufacturers are even partnering with highly capable educational institutions including community colleges to foster the next generation of workers with in-demand skillsets covering the use of flexible, intelligent, and autonomous Industry 4.0 technologies. On November 5, 2019, MCC convened 100 regional stakeholders and employers from 80 organizations across the Finger Lakes regional area to participate in a one-day workshop to (1) determine the regional impacts of Industry 4.0 and transformative technologies on Finger Lakes regional businesses, and; (2) identify the future technological competency, knowledge, and skill requirements of regional employers. The primary focus of this resulting study will inform the revision of existing, and development of new, technical training and academic programming at MCC. MCC recognizes the need for a workforce development model to adequately prepare the future i4.0 technicians. These transformed job roles hold the promise of providing economic prosperity and global competitiveness for the industries within the Finger Lakes region of New York. The following pages identify cross-sector competencies and skill requirements including equipment needs of the future technician workforce as reported by industry participants.

Table 1: Impacts of i4.0 Technologies and Cross-Sector Competency Requirements.

KEY OBJECTIVES FOCUS AREAS

KEY INFORMATION

Impacts of i4.0 technologies on key industry sectors

 Manufacturing & Automation  Information Technology  Health Care  Human Resources and Professional Services

 Technology Impacts : Most impactful i4.0 technologies over the next 10 years.

 Job Functions and Business Operations Impacts : How job functions and business operations are changing with i4.0.  Credentials and Requirements : Existing and future credentials for hiring qualified technicians.

Cross-sector competency requirements

 Additive Manufacturing  Advanced Process Control  Artificial Intelligence  Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality  Automation and Robotics  Data Analytics & Data Science  Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)  Mechatronics Systems

 Technician Skill Requirements : Knowledge, skill-sets, competencies, and methods, abilities needed for the future technician workforce.  Tools and Equipment : Tools, equipment, software, and other resources that future technicians will be required to use.

The Future of the Technician Workforce Study

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