The U.S manufacturing workforce has been improving in technology for more than two years. The industry is poised to transform work and is also said to have a significant impact on the nation's economy. The manufacturing industry contributes $2.3 trillion to the country's economy GDP and employs over 12 million people.
In recent years the U.S manufacturing industry has seemed to be in danger of losing its position as the world-class manufacturing economy owing to the workforce shortage. This causes the output to decrease and hence a fall in gross sales. The number of manufacturing companies in the U.S has also fallen by 25% indicating slow production activities.
This workforce shortage can be improved with exponential technology such as advanced robotics, artificial intelligence, and advanced people's analytics if applied correctly. As technology itself develops, the industry must figure out how current professions and the skills connected with them are evolving into new employment and career paths.
How can the industrial sector get ready for this new working environment and train its workforce to coexist with robots and cutting-edge technology? What abilities or skills will be considered "must-haves" in the jobs of the future? What are the routes for education and training to make these capabilities possible?
The future of the U.S. manufacturing industry lies in areas it neglects. Let’s first look at how it neglects women's participation. U.S. manufacturers aren't making both males and females actively participate in the development process of the manufacturing industry.
Future jobs and skill sets of the future workforce are the next to consider. Some U.S manufacturing companies are working on putting humans in the loop and retraining them to leverage technology for more productivity. This is not just to eliminate cost but to provide value to customers and give many people meaningful work.
Another aspect is the increasing need for digital and soft skills. Technology must replace some manual tasks in today’s manufacturing. Research by the World Economic Forum reveals the top 10 skills that are needed in the next 10 years, part of which include critical thinking, people management, and web development. It is also important to embrace other digital software and artificial intelligence to allow smooth operations of manufacturing industries.
In conclusion, the U.S manufacturing industry still has a promising future if exponential technology is incorporated and women are allowed to be actively involved in the manufacturing process.
