ENGINEERING | SECTOR ESSENTIALS
Top Three Trends in Engineering for Graduates to Know The pressure’s on for the industry to embrace the digital transformation and keep up with market demands.
I
n recent years, the engineering industry has gone through exciting changes and seen ground-breaking developments, such as the rise of automation and the application of intelligent machines. These developments, combined with Singapore’s plan to transform itself into a Smart Nation, have led to a strong demand for a future-ready engineering workforce and people who are well-versed in new and advanced technology tools that can bring business value. Keeping up with what’s trending in the industry will not only provide graduates with an idea of the job opportunities that these advances have opened up, but also awareness of the skills needed for them to be more employable. Here are three significant industrial trends graduates should take note of – and impress engineering recruiters with!
Trend #1 Automation and robotics The rise of automation and robotics may not be a new trend, but they’re still revolutionising the engineering sector. Robots and machines are displacing workers, dominating workplaces and becoming the true backbone of many organisations while humans manage them on the sidelines. A notable example of a company that has integrated automation and robotics into their operations is SIA Engineering. The corporation deploys air tugs that allow ground crew to move an aircraft backwards wirelessly, as well as air casters to float heavy objects off the ground. Such devices help ensure that staff welfare is protected, and employees no longer have to perform such strenuous and manual tasks. Moreover, the use of automated machines and robots are key for fast-growing industries to manufacture products in high quality and quantity in the shortest possible time. This is important for industry stakeholders, as automating labour-intensive processes also leads to significant cuts in manpower costs.
What this means for graduates Engineers with technical skills and knowledge in manufacturing technologies and programming are highly sought-after. Employers are looking for engineers to design, install, programme, operate and maintain machines and robots used in their operations. Aside from technical skills, recruiters also seek engineers who are investigative and possess problem-solving abilities. To showcase these traits to prospective employers during the job application process, graduates can read widely about the issues stakeholders in the field face, and explain how they can contribute to the firm’s efforts to solve the problems. Employers also value applicants who possess foresight, as well as the ability to look at the bigger picture of how minute details can affect larger processes. These qualities often indicate a candidate’s potential to continually innovate and come up with new applications of technology to solve problems.
70
STEM Career Guide 2022
