Mapping the Skills Gap in Understanding IoT Applications in Manufacturing The Internet of Things (IoT) is expanding rapidly across industries. Machines, tools, fleets, wearables, and a number of such devices are being connected and embedded with sensors. These connected devices create a deluge of data, and businesses, from the top management to the employees, are struggling to make sense of it. As the manufacturing sector is increasingly warming up to adopting IoT applications as a critical part of their operations, one of the toughest challenges to overcome will be in preparing every stakeholder of the manufacturing ecosystem to understand and embrace this smart technology. This calls for an IoT-oriented management, as well as skilled employees, who are able to fill in the skills gap and implement smart IoT applications with ease. IoT-skilled employees The widening skills gap is becoming more apparent in manufacturing today than ever before. Many of the staff don’t have the necessary skills to use the technology related to IoT. IoT implementation includes a broad spectrum, covering an entire ecosystem, which means that industries would need a vast combination of skills for each project. The employees need to have expertise in areas including cyber security, networking, device hardware, and most importantly data analytics. Without the required skill set to convert the enormous data collected into operational insights, manufacturing sector will find it difficult to exploit the capabilities of IoT. The two options the manufacturing industries have today are (1) to contractually bring in employees or (2) to hire-train. The first model enables a company to bring in existing employees with the right skills together to build and manage an IoT project, review the outputs from an IoT sensor, or comprehend data-driven insights delivered by IoT applications in real time. Smart IoT devices and accessible technologies available today can open up the geographically dispersed talent pools. The hire-train model requires employers to train new and existing employees in specific areas where the employer works. Successful companies know the value of continuous training, and IoT applications should be a vital part of the training & development programs. IoT training programs should try to effectively engage cross-departmental resources in a coordinated way. This includes training them in IoT-related skills which encompasses of not just the technology but also soft skills such as virtual teaming, collaboration, and analytical thinking.
IoT-oriented management For many companies, IoT is a new and uncharted territory; not just for the employees of an organization but for the management too. Manufacturing industry is traditionally a very conservative market, and a reluctance to accept digital transformations can hinder their ability to fully benefit from IoT. A lack of clarity from the top on why IoT is important to the company is a challenge to successful IoT implementation. Their apprehensions about undiscovered threats, security protocols, policy revisions, organizational changes involved and budgets constraints create barriers to adoption of IoT in the organization. In today’s competitive world, for a business to succeed a new kind of leadership is required; a management ready to take on the dynamic challenges of IoT. The decision makers should look for leaders that focus on creativity, innovation, growth and risk taking. The top management should have a vision statement that is clear, specific, flexible to achieve the IoT goals. And organizational structures need to be aligned towards executing that vision of a company. IoT-ready work force Creating an IoT-ready workforce cannot happen overnight. The change will take time and effort. Given the challenges involved, adoption of IoT enabled applications will certainly be affected by the existing talent gaps. Hence collaborative ways of training & development are required from every department and every stakeholder in the organization. Having a clear business vision at the top tier of an organization along with identifying and empowering IoT leaders within the company will become essential to forge the path towards success. WeMakeIoT specializes in leveraging IoT technology to create end-to-end solutions and in enabling seamless adoption of IoT applications across the manufacturing ecosystem. Connect with us at http://www.wemakeiot.com/ to explore further options in IoT-driven manufacturing solutions.