7 Jun
2019

6 HR Tips for a Successful Transition to Industry 4.0

Industry 4.0 is transforming the workplace and undergoing many changes. Discover six HR tips that will facilitate the transition to Industry 4.0.

Human Resources
Industry 4.0
Smart Factory
6 HR Tips for a Successful Transition to Industry 4.0

More and more technologies will be implanted in factories and human-machine interactions will be numerous. New jobs will be created and the skills sought by employers will be transformed. Manufacturers adopting the transition to 4.0 must be prepared for changes. Here are six winning practices that will address the changes impacting the workforce in the Industry 4.0 era.

 

 

1. Train and develop talents

Effective skills development programs will be needed to train talent within the organization itself. New tasks will be assigned to employees and training must be provided to ensure the transition. The observation of more experienced employees, the use of augmented reality or online learning are interesting methods to consider.

2. Delivering HR Flexibility in the Industry 4.0 Age

When it comes to hiring data scientists, R&D specialists or software programmers, manufacturers compete with different technology companies. These are known for providing a very pleasant work environment for their employees. Very traditional human resource practices are therefore less applicable. It is important to innovate and offer more flexible work schedules, resembling more regular office hours.

3. Delegate decision-making

In the same vein as the previous point, it is necessary to review the hierarchy and the decision-making processes. If we develop our employees so that they can perform more complex tasks, they must also be given greater autonomy in decision-making. For example, developers will have to wait for approvals from machine operators to reconfigure equipment. Or a production coordinator should not have to wait for a manager's approval if he just received a real-time alert. It is in the company's best interest to flatten the hierarchical structures.

 

 

4. Make employees responsible for innovation

Employees, if properly trained and autonomous in their role, must be responsible for innovation and the results that result. Rather than doing a small portion of a process, employees must understand the entire process and must take ownership over the results. Managers, meanwhile, must facilitate this responsibility.

5. Recruit based on abilities

Traditional recruitment based on experience and diploma doesn't respond as well to the demands of Industry 4.0. More than ever, manufacturing companies will need versatile employees with the ability to learn quickly and work on different projects simultaneously. Interviews based on the fit with the company culture and the general skills of the individual are to be prioritized.

6. Strategically plan industry-related HR needs 4.0

It becomes very important to list all the basic information about the workforce: planned retirements, future parental leave, subcontractors, temporary contracts, etc. Having an accurate portrait of our workforce makes it possible to adequately forecast training and recruitment needs, and to be better prepared for changes.

 

 

Coping with industry changes 4.0 takes time and effort, but it's well worth it!

Want to learn more?
Download the ebook
Related blog articles

Related articles

Back to the blog
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
7
Jan 2019

Artificial Intelligence in the Food Industry: Six areas of application

English
8
Oct 2019

Types de gaspillages dans le lean manufacturing - le gaspillage dû au sur-traitement

French
27
Mar 2020

Ce que vous devez savoir sur le monitoring de la production en 2020

French

Related articles

Back to the blog
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
25
Oct 2023

Maximizing Operational Efficiency: A Multi-Faceted Journey

In manufacturing, achieving operational efficiency is an ongoing journey that requires various strategies and continuous effort.

English
17
Oct 2023

Maximizing Uptime: Strategies for Reducing Downtime and Boosting Throughput

Discover expert strategies to maximize uptime and throughput in manufacturing, from reducing changeover times to eliminating bottlenecks and unlocking hidden capacity.

English
16
Oct 2023

The Synergy Between Lean Manufacturing and OEE Monitoring

Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) monitoring plays a crucial role in the realm of lean manufacturing, serving as an essential tool to assess and enhance the efficiency and productivity of manufacturing processes.

English