Despite fears of automation replacing human workers, smart tech like AI and VR is creating new demand for some manufacturing jobs.
quinta-feira, setembro 19, 2019
Karl Reischl tests out one of the hands-on training Industry 4.0 equipment during the Trades and Engineering Technologies Conference on Monday, Sept 9, 2019, at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in Green Bay, Wis. Ebony Cox/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Photo: Ebony Cox/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin) |
SHAWANO - Machinists at J&R Machine used to spend an hour everyday, pocket calculator in hand, checking on equipment in the company's 30,000-square-foot facility.
They had to determine when each machine was operating, when it was moving material to manufacture, and when it wasn't running. Using that information, they calculated how soon each machine would need maintenance.
Now, software does all that for them.
A big-screen TV in the shop shows a live display with each machine's status: what it's doing — whether it's running, preparing to run, or if it's down — and when it is expected to need maintenance. Employees can also see this information with a mobile device or laptop.
"It's helped us do our preventative maintenance programs a lot better, because we have a much more accurate read of how many hours are on each machine (and) everything that's going on with each machine," said Tim Grimm, a project manager at the Shawano-based contract manufacturer.
J&R is one manufacturer among many adopting so-called smart technology, which on the manufacturing shop floor is known as Industry 4.0.
Industry 4.0 is shifting the responsibilities of manufacturing employees. Less time is spent running after day-to-day measurements and more time is spent analyzing data to make informed decisions. And that means the manufacturing workforce may start to look a lot different.
A need for more skilled machinists and data analysts
As all the new data streams in, companies are trying to figure out how to make the most of it. That's creating more demand for people who can help.
A recent survey by the Northeast Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance and St. Norbert's Strategic Institute — conducted to see whether alliance members had a plan for Industry 4.0 technology — identified a need for process engineers and data analysts.
Process engineers use their manufacturing expertise to design and troubleshoot industrial processes. Working with data analysts, they can then engineer solutions and improvements for their companies or industry.
Page: Green Bay Press Gazette
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