Chris Eastwood Automotive Ltd

What Will Smart Factories Mean For Automotive Recruitment?

What Will Smart Factories Mean For Automotive Recruitment?

It’s generally accepted within the manufacturing sector as a whole that there’s a fourth industrial revolution going on, also known as Industry 4.0. This revolution is one that’s based on big data and the Internet of Things, and one that’s moving towards more technologically advanced solutions.

And with automaker Audi announcing earlier this year that its first smart factory has opened in Mexico, what impact will this have on the automotive recruitment sector as a whole?

Let’s start by looking at the Audi factory in a bit more detail. This factory was revolutionary for the automaker for a number of reasons, not least because it’s their first automobile plant in North America. But aside from that milestone, it’s got people talking for other reasons.

As you’d expect, the plant features state-of-the-art equipment, which is matched by ultra-efficient logistics. One of the most impressive statistics to come from this venture is that not a single drop of waste water will be created at this site.

Of course, incredible though the technology is, it still needs people to operate it. By the end of 2016, Audi estimated that it would have a 4,200-strong workforce at the Mexico factory, and it’s investing in training its future staff in the country too.

Dr Hubert Waltl, chairman of the board at Audi Mexico, commented: “The facility is the first that we have put into operation completely virtually, that is, in a computer simulation.”

He explained that this optimised the entire production chain and resulted in the plant being operational 30 per cent faster than usual. Taking this approach allowed factory planners in different locations to work together virtually on the design.

Of course, the move towards greater efficiency, and more technologically advanced production lines is nothing new in Europe. But the move towards smart factories is gathering pace. And this could be good news for those working in the automotive manufacturing industry in the UK and elsewhere in Europe.

Deloitte’s 2016 Global Manufacturing Competitiveness Index revealed that while China is currently the most competitive manufacturing nation in the world, that is likely to change.

The report stated that moving towards higher value, advanced manufacturing puts former manufacturing powerhouses back at the fore. That’s potentially really good news for anyone working in vehicle manufacturing in the US, Germany, the UK and Japan, among others.

What’s more, the CEOs surveyed by Deloitte revealed that talent is “the most critical driver of global manufacturing competitiveness”. For employees, that means having the necessary skills to work with this new technology and that finding more advanced engineering solutions is essential.

It also means that people who have those abilities and the experience within the sector will command a premium on the employment market, particularly in the UK, given the shortage of skilled engineers and mechanics.

Smart factories don’t just need skilled technicians and engineers though, they also need accomplished operations and logistics managers to keep everything running smoothly from the top down.

And with the UK government keen to support the development of emerging fields such as robotics, artificial intelligence and advanced materials manufacturing, among others, there could be significant opportunities in this area for those with the right skillset in the automotive industry.

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