Experts: Manufacturers need to adopt continuous training to survive

Manufacturers need to embrace continuous training, according to a report in trade publication Advanced Manufacturing. Executives in the industry say the field is facing a serious skills gap — and it's not going away. While skilled professionals exist in older forms of manufacturing, it can be a challenge to encourage them to shift toward new types of production. And while newcomers may be enthusiastic about new technology, they'll still need skill development, too, experts said at a roundtable covered by Advanced Manufacturing. In addition to continuous learning initiatives, employers may need to embrace "remote experts" who can troubleshoot machinery while off site, and begin to rely more on data, the industry executives said. Manufacturing isn't alone in facing a skills gap, and its industry leaders' recommendations hold lessons for those in other fields. As technology evolves at a pace so rapid that formal education programs struggle to keep up, continuous training will be necessary in many workplaces. Some employers have already taken the first steps, investing money in training skilled workers and partnering with schools to tailor training to today's needs. But ongoing learning won't happen without a push from leadership; employees say they generally don't take the initiative to upskill themselves. And regardless of the form it takes, training must come with continuous feedback, experts say. Feedback is a form of learning, after all, and employees say they want it regularly.