What skills do today's students need to be successful in tomorrow's advanced manufacturing workforce?

Our host Matt Kirchner was recently a guest on the NSF-funded podcast "Preparing Technicians for the Future of Work," where he sat down with Michael Lesiecki to discuss this very question.

The conversation covers all things relevant to technical education and the industrial workforce. So educators, employers and public policy makers...be prepared to take notes on how we can prepare our students for the emerging workforce of advanced manufacturing!

In this episode...

Building up to Industry 4.0
Industry 4.0 is here...but we can't get too far ahead and neglect to teach our students foundational manufacturing skills, like lean, safety quality, mechanical systems, electrical systems, etc.

Then we can add smart sensors and smart devices and teach the integration of all these technologies.

The IT/OT Convergence
In addition to systems integration, our students need cross-disciplinary skills between operations technology and information technology.  Matt discusses how these worlds converge in Industry 4.0.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
With IT and OT working together, we can embed AI and ML to collect the right data and optimize our manufacturing process. How can students learn AI and ML in a tangible, applicable way?

(Further listening: https://techedpodcast.com/11-predictions-how-artificial-intelligence-will-transform-manufacturing/)

Certifications
All these new technologies and processes mean a whole new set of skills. Industry-developed and recognized certifications will enable today's students to prove they have the skills employers need for advanced manufacturing facilities.

The Future Is...Infinity
What is Industry Infinity.0? Matt explains it all.

View the original recording on the Preparing Technicians for the Future of Work podcast: https://www.preparingtechnicians.org/episode-35-the-emerging-workforce-of-advanced-manufacturing/

Find this episode on our website: https://techedpodcast.com/the-emerging-workforce-of-advanced-manufacturing/

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