Future of the Technician Workforce Study

Job Functions and Business Operations Impacts: Human Resources and Professional Services

IN DECLINE  Traditional learning models  Individual problem-solving  Manual, dirty, dangerous jobs  Face-to-face communication

AUGMENTED BY i4.0  Basic technical/analytical skills : Technicians will require more basic technology skills and entry-level statistics/analytics than traditional standards require; ability to comprehend/ decipher work instructions; greater emphasis on STEM skills  Automation software programming :  Virtual interactions : Transition from in-person interactions to remote, virtual communications  Dashboards and visualizations : Growing need for technicians in manufacturing-type roles (i.e., CNC precision machinists) to understand/ interpret dashboard information FUTURE FUNCTIONS ENABLED BY i4.0  Micro-credentialing and “digital badges” : Adoption of micro-credentialing platforms and digital badge ecosystems (i.e., digital representations of educational achievements, task accomplishments, and career milestones)  VR/AR operations : Conducting operations in virtual spaces  Systems integration : Knowledge of systems integration (i.e., vertical, horizontal, end-to-end)  Big data analysis : Mass data collection and analysis enabled by IIoT/connectivity  International networking : Ease of global communication/collaboration; fewer language/ linguistic barriers Development of mechatronics software for directing/defining automation tasks

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