The rapid pace of digitisation is heralding the fourth industrial revolution, leading to incredible changes in manufacturing and conventional engineering practices. With transformation set to happen in industries in India, educational institutions and leading manufacturers are creating roadmaps for equipping the engineers holding conventional degrees with the necessary skills of Industry 4.0. NAMTECH along with Technical University of Munich (TUM), Singapore, Asia, has taken up the key role of training both engineering graduates and the workforce in these emerging technologies. Driven by the Industry 4.0 revolution, the engineering landscape is evolving at breakneck speed and engineers need to master these skills to stay relevant, competitive, and innovative in this field.
Significance of Industry 4.0 Skills for Engineers
Industry 4.0 is characterised by the integration of physical and digital systems, which presents a great opportunity for India to leapfrog into the industrial competitiveness era. To capitalize on this, the manufacturing sector requires engineers well-versed in Industry 4.0 principles. Industry 4.0 skills are the foundation of India’s engineering future creating a significant impact on economic growth, job creation, and global competitiveness. With IIoT powering smart factories to AI optimising supply chains, Industry 4.0 technologies are playing a significant role in fostering a dynamic and self-optimizing production environment. Industry 4.0 is experiencing a seismic shift with advanced technologies like AI, robotics, big data, cloud computing, and additive manufacturing creeping into traditional industrial processes. This shift is leading to major changes in the lives of engineers, who are expected to handle the process where data drives decisions, machines communicate autonomously, and sustainability is paramount. This transformation has generated a demand for engineers, who are efficient in managing and handling it. Engineers without Industry 4.0 skills are likely to be overlooked in the competitive job market that values tech-savvy expertise.
Why Industry 4.0 Skills Are Non-Negotiable
The competitive job market is looking for a workforce having significant skills aligned with advanced technologies. First, technological advancements like automation and robotic tools will replace the low-skilled workforce and secondly, a pool of skilled engineers is required by the smart manufacturing and allied industries to cater to the Industry 4.0 requirements. Engineering graduates without Industry 4.0 skills will find it difficult to get a job if their current skills do not fulfil the Industry 4.0 needs. The Industry 4.0 skills are essential for engineers because:
Adapting to New Job Requirements – Engineering roles are evolving, and engineers today need to integrate advanced technologies, analyse data, and should be capable of adapting to these technologies. For instance, mechanical engineers not only design a component but also integrate IoT sensors for monitoring performance in real time. Similarly, electrical engineers not only maintain a power grid but also protect it against cyber threats. A process engineer in a smart factory requires knowledge of AI algorithms to optimize production lines, as without the knowledge of basic machine learning or IIoT, they will be unable to meet efficiency goals. Thus, employers today require engineers who not only possess engineering competencies but also possess data analytics, automation, and cyber-security skills so that they can blend technical know-how with digital fluency.
Driving Innovation – Industry 4.0 skills like additive manufacturing allow engineers to quickly and economically design complex designs to revolutionise product development. Industry 4.0 tools are effective in boosting engineers’ ability to innovate, as digital twin technology allows civil engineers to identify flaws in the design of the building before starting construction projects and can also simulate infrastructural projects. Mastering Industry 4.0 technologies allow engineers to push innovation boundaries, aerospace engineers can make use of AI to optimise aerodynamics to achieve breakthroughs that are hard to attain with traditional methods. These skills are essential to unlock creative potential and emerge as a pioneer of the field.
Enhancing Employability – In the highly competitive job market, employers prefer engineers possessing Industry 4.0 expertise. Job roles like automation engineers, smart manufacturing experts, and IoT architects are highly demanded as per the industry reports. Engineers who will be hired for these positions should have knowledge of Industry 4.0 skills like predictive analytics, robotics, and cloud platforms. This will further boost the employability of the engineers. For instance, a chemical engineer having real-time data analytics skills will be a preferred choice to fill positions in advanced process control. Similarly, civil engineers with Building Information Modeling expertise are more likely to roles in smart city projects. These skills make engineers stand out and open their doors for well-paid jobs.
Future-Proofing Careers – Engineers will find it difficult to survive in the rapidly evolving technological field with a conventional engineering degree. They need to up-skill them with Industry 4.0 skills to stay relevant in the job market and avoid becoming obsolete in the industry. With Industry 4.0 making way for Industry 5.0, particularly with a focus on human-machine collaboration, engineers require advanced skills like automation programming and analysing big data that are essential for preparing engineers for the future. Engineers working in Industry 4.0 should be learning lifelong and should always be eager to up-skill them to remain relevant and stay ahead of the curve.
Meeting Industry Expectations – Currently, engineers are facing challenges like supply chain disruptions and climate change, which they need to effectively address. To effectively tackle these global issues, engineers require Industry 4.0 skills. For instance, energy engineers make use of AI to optimise renewable energy grids and reduce carbon footprints and manufacturing engineers make use of IoT to reduce waste through precision production. Companies in these sectors prefer to hire engineers who can efficiently handle global challenges with their Industry 4.0 skills. Engineers without Industry 4.0 skills will not be able to drive initiatives like sustainable smart factories or resilient infrastructure.
Final Thoughts
Engineers equipped with Industry 4.0 skills have a perfect blend of traditional expertise with digital innovation. Mastering Industry 4.0 skills such as data analytics, additive manufacturing, IoT, AI, and automation not only keeps engineers relevant in the job market but also equips them to drive change in a world of smart systems and sustainable solutions. Possessing these skills boosts their employability, future-proof their careers, and drives innovation but also keeps them at the forefront of progress. These skills empower engineers to tackle future challenges today.
