In 2022, Mark Debono, vice president of Cornerstone OnDemand, discussed digital learning in manufacturing
UK manufacturing is slowly recovering after the shock of the pandemic, with output rising 0.3% from the previous quarter. However, current output is 1.3% below February 2020 levels, proving that it still has a long way to go. Complicating this recovery, however, and increasingly drawing industry-wide attention, is its widening skills gap. This is by no means a problem unique to manufacturing, and the rest of the UK – indeed, the global – economy faces similar challenges.
However, manufacturing is facing the toughest hiring challenge in the UK economy, with 85% of employers saying they are struggling to find the right candidates, according to research from Search Consultancy. With job vacancies rising from 24,000 in June 2020 to 90,000 in September 2022, the industry is fighting an uphill battle to be able to continue its recovery.
As an industrial computer manufacturer, we are well aware of the skills gap facing UK manufacturing. Although the UK manufacturing industry has recovered from the epidemic, the skills gap problem is still very serious. According to relevant company data reports: 85% of manufacturing employers are struggling to find suitable talents, and this problem brings economic losses of up to 7 billion pounds every year. To make matters worse, the global labor shortage is expected to reach 7.9 million by 2030, costing the UK economy nearly £15bn. Addressing the skills gap is therefore critical for UK manufacturing.
For some companies, they need to understand the skills structure of their organization, but only 45% of companies can do this. Digital learning is an effective way to address the skills gap in manufacturing. Digital learning has the characteristics of centralized, anytime, anywhere learning and active learning. Digital learning can create a culture of self-learning and identify where opportunities exist to upskill people.
Our industrial computer products can provide support for digital learning. For example, our products can be integrated with various learning management systems to provide employees with a seamless and integrated learning experience. Our solutions also help manufacturers identify skills gaps within their organizations and deliver targeted training to fill those gaps.
The benefits of digital learning go beyond improving employee skills, while increasing productivity and reducing production costs. Digital learning can help companies reduce employee turnover because employees are better able to receive training and development opportunities. In addition, digital learning can increase employee satisfaction and loyalty by making employees more engaged in learning.
In our view, digital learning is one of the best solutions to address the skills gap in UK manufacturing. We are committed to providing high-quality industrial computer products to help manufacturers realize digital learning. We believe that UK manufacturing will have a more prosperous future, supported by digital learning.
