The digitisation of the manufacturing industry and the rise of smart factories in the future will be reliant on employers’ willingness to focus on people power. Not just processes, according to Keith Tilley – CEO of workflow automation specialist, Intoware.
Anyone involved in manufacturing will have heard of Industry 4.0. This is the powerful concept of bringing smart technologies such as AI, the cloud, workflow automation, wearables and ‘real time’ data to manufacturing.
This use of digital technology to monitor and manage production processes is undoubtedly already impacting on the improvement of performance. It does so by streamlining critical work processes and collecting and analysing data for better decision making. However – data doesn’t mean a lot without people power to use it. In fact, the human element of smart factories has been somewhat overlooked.
For this reason, the next industrial revolution – Industry 5.0 – needs to be all about putting people back at the heart of industrial production. This means empowering employees to work in collaboration with technology. The technology should be designed around the way they think and work.
Manufacturers must put people first. They should ask, rather than asking what can workers do with technology, what can the technology do for workers, instead? This approach embraces people power.
But, where’s the best place to start?
Pain points
A good place to begin is by identifying your workforce’s pain points and liaising with staff. This helps to get a deep understanding of their needs.
Examples could be inefficient reporting tools, or too much paperwork. By identifying these challenges and problem areas, you can identify ways to resolve issues. This helps streamline processes that have been left behind in many of today’s smart factories. Use the right technology to digitise workflows.
In taking this approach, we often see manufacturers reporting an increase in their team’s job satisfaction and team retention. This is critically important in today’s world. Relying on people power is crucial where the industry faces numerous challenges in attracting and retaining skilled talent.
The younger workforce, Millennials and Generation Z, are tech savvy
They want a workplace that enables them to integrate digital technologies into their roles, such as video learning or hands-free devices. Rather than physical manuals or clipboards, digital options are preferred. This further illustrates the importance of people power in modern industry.
Technologies such as assisted reality (AR) devices can fulfil this demand. However, they need to be connected to the workforce and the needs of the employee.
For example, AR devices can be integrated with digital workflow software and attached to safety helmets. This enables employees to easily use voice commands to watch short training videos and access manuals. It also helps in viewing mechanical drawings, looking up spare parts, and accessing other materials critical for training.
Even in high noise environments, AR heads-up displays make it appear as though the worker is looking at a 7-inch display. A front-facing camera can be used to make video calls. It can show a remote expert back at HQ any problems that a trainee experiences. This leaves them ‘hands-free’ to get the job done.
By working with your team to identify these needs and requirements, and seeking out the right technology to help streamline processes, manufacturers can create real value for workers. This also helps in boosting productivity.
The connected workforce
As I’ve said, the key to digital transformation success is to combine people, processes and systems harmoniously. So, when it comes to Industry 5.0, it’s not a case of implementing technology once and moving on.
Optimising processes is essential, of course, but it’s not enough on its own.
The move to put people back at the centre of industrial production means ensuring continued engagement and satisfaction with technology. It also involves gathering feedback and learning from the processes put in place. These are the human elements that today’s smart factories often miss.
Integrating digital technologies with human-centric processes such as reporting and training enables data that wasn’t previously available to be collected and analysed. This helps in identifying ‘human bottlenecks’ such as gaps in training requirements. It also helps note different methods used by staff to carry out tasks. Varying recording and reporting techniques across the workforce can also be noted.
It also offers the potential of digitally capturing and recording all the human processes needed to keep the smart factory running. This includes machine set up, quality assurance inspections, equipment maintenance, and repairs. It also helps in fulfilling compliance requirements more effectively by using photos, video evidence, time stamps and a log of who did each process.
This connectivity between employees and technology reduces inefficiencies and enhances productivity levels. It engages with the workforce to continually improve both workforce and customer satisfaction. This is vital, yet missed by many companies rushing to digitise critical industrial processes. Unfortunately, they often overlook the requirements of people at the heart of their businesses.
People first
Industry 4.0 technologies are vital in keeping our manufacturing industry competitive and resilient. This is especially true against today’s backdrop of socio and economic difficulties.
However, without a connected workforce, these technologies can not meet their full potential.
The human workforce needs to be the industry’s focus as we move into 2023 and beyond. This means putting the needs of our people – not just our processes – at the very centre of what we do. This can ultimately be seen as the essence of people power in the industry.
Download our eBook “Industry 5.0: Putting people, not processes at the centre of operations” to find out more/