By investing in new 4.0 technologies such as real-time dashboards and data analytics, manufacturers aim to drive productivity gains and ROI. To get there, they need to invest in the people who will get the most out of these technologies on the shop floor. An Industry Week article outlines four talent management approaches to prioritize in the Industry 4.0 era.
1. Build change champions
Any company can change only once its employees buy in and adopt the change. Identifying change champions who own the transformation can pay off handsomely. According to that same article, roughly 15% of the workforce should be identified as change champions and placed in strategic roles across the organization: supervisors, technical experts, and so on.
2. Invest in talent engagement
Traditionally, decisions came down from the top and employees executed. In the Industry 4.0 era, manufacturers betting on lean practices and connected environments have no choice but to work with highly engaged employees who take ownership and genuinely want to move things forward. Engaged employees are how you truly innovate and pull off the shift to Industry 4.0. Monetary bonuses alone have low short-term impact: focus instead on visionary, inspiring leadership, continuous feedback and recognition, and meaningful development opportunities.
3. Hire for development potential
Hiring has long matched a candidate's experience and skills to the needs of an open role. In an environment that changes daily, innovative manufacturers must hire for development and learning potential. Candidates should bring key Industry 4.0 competencies. Hiring and internal promotion criteria need to evolve fast to match this new reality. The famous "X years of experience" requirement on a job post may already be obsolete. Think about it.
4. Set up learning paths
Reaching a leadership role should not happen by accident: it should be the result of a rigorous learning and professional development path. Manufacturers should be able to identify successors who will follow a development program that lets them climb the ladder.
To sum up, manufacturers are going through major organizational transformations, and HR practices must align with this new reality. People are the deciding factor in succeeding or failing at the Industry 4.0 shift: it takes time and effort, but the ROI is well worth it. Download the ebook below to find out the next steps.
Source: 4 Ways to Transform Your People Strategy for Industry 4.0, Scott Erker, May 30, 2018, Industry Week
