Abstract
Orientation: Industry 4.0 (I4.0) is causing significant changes in the manufacturing industry, and its adoption is unavoidable for competitiveness and productivity.Research purpose: This study investigated I4.0 skills using the views of professionals in the manufacturing industry and experts in digital transformation practising in South Africa.Motivation for the study: I4.0 was coined originally for the manufacturing industry, and skills availability significantly influences its successful adoption. Furthermore, I4.0 is relatively new in the South African manufacturing industry, and there is still limited empirical research on the subject.Research approach/design and method: A qualitative descriptive research design was used, and participants were enrolled using purposeful sampling via email, telephone and LinkedIn. Twenty semi-structured interviews were conducted face-to-face or telephonically, and thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.Main findings: This study found that I4.0 demands higher skills than in conventional manufacturing, and companies should take the lead in facilitating upskilling and reskilling of their employees to preserve jobs. Experiential training could enhance I4.0 skills development in the manufacturing industry.Practical/managerial implications: Agile changes in I4.0 require constant re-alignment of employees’ skills in the manufacturing industry. This requires companies to make the human resource (HR) management function an integral part of business strategy.Contribution/value-add: The study can help HR practitioners and manufacturing professionals in strategising and innovate technology to manage the evolving I4.0 skills requirements and preserve jobs. The study also asserts a foundation for further investigation of I4.0 skills competencies’ development in the South African manufacturing industry.
Highlights
The progression in industrial revolution has resulted in an incremental change in job complexity and skills requirements (Selamat, Alias, Hikmi, Puteh, & Tapsi, 2017)
Industry 4.0 (I4.0), a Fourth Industrial Revolution initiative, is transforming the manufacturing industry into a more competitive environment in various ways that include the skills mix, attitudes and experiences required in the workforce (Baker, 2016; Gehrke et al, 2015; World Economic Forum, 2016)
The purpose of this article is to scrutinise the subject of I4.0 skills in the manufacturing industry, using the views of manufacturing industry professionals and digital transformation experts practising in South Africa
Summary
The progression in industrial revolution has resulted in an incremental change in job complexity and skills requirements (Selamat, Alias, Hikmi, Puteh, & Tapsi, 2017). Industry 4.0 (I4.0), a Fourth Industrial Revolution initiative, is transforming the manufacturing industry into a more competitive environment in various ways that include the skills mix, attitudes and experiences required in the workforce (Baker, 2016; Gehrke et al, 2015; World Economic Forum, 2016). The South African manufacturing industry makes a noticeable contribution to the country’s economy (Republic of South Africa, 2018a, 2018b), and the adoption of I4.0 principles and technologies is unavoidable for survival and competitiveness. The South African manufacturing industry is currently characterised by significant numbers of unskilled and semi-skilled workers (MerSETA, 2018). The impact of I4.0 on skills requirements cannot be ignored and calls for an investigation
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