Electricity + Control September 2018

ENGINEERING THE FUTURE

Reimagining skills development

Barry Elliot, Rockwell Automation

Across the world, businesses are using digital technologies like IoT and AR to im- prove knowledge and skill levels of their employees. In this article, Barry Elliott, Managing Director of Rockwell Automation Sub-Saharan Africa, considers the wider potential application for skilling people beyond the immediate environments of or- ganisations.

Take Note!

Schools can get involved by putting more relevant skills into the reach of learners. Classrooms can be more decentralised, with com- panies opening their fa- cilities and resources to scheduled technical classes.

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D igital technology is having an immense impact in the operating, maintenance and training environments of industrial compa- nies around the world, allowing them to more ad- equately acquaint and prepare workers to real-life job situations via an increased capacity to deliver more experiential learning environments. Rockwell Automation is among the industrial automation companies developing augmented reality (AR) technologies simulating machine and plant environments. And with the company’s re- cent announcement of a $1 billion equity stake in PTC enabling the integration of AR into platforms such as FactoryTalk Analytics and MES software, it is bringing even more analytical and diagnostic intelligence into manufacturing and plant manage- ment applications. As technology allows us to em- ulate the day-to-day experiences of a given job’s requirements with greater richness and accuracy, one is able to improve the safety, knowledge and efficiency of a workforce. Yet digital technologies such as PTC’s are also positively impacting environments far beyond the more specialist context of industrial automation: the company’s ThingWorx ® IoT and Vuforia ® AR platforms are used by KTM and Caterpillar to im- prove knowledge and skills transfer to less experi-

enced mechanics and introduce greater consisten- cy and centralisation in the service methodology of their vehicles and equipment. Delivering real-time visual instructions for service procedures superimposed on the physical prod- uct via PTC software is helping these technicians quickly and safely locate and access a mechanical fault and perform complete diagnostic evaluations to deliver the highest chances of successful repair processes. In retail, Walmart is using AR to train employees in customer service and shop logistics. Trades like welding are being taught through AR. From hospitality and finance to construction sites and healthcare, digital technologies are transform- ing our capacity to provide rapid knowledge transfer from the experienced to the novice. The ability of technology to provide an experien- tial learning platform beyond theoretical constructs is a critical ― but not the sole ― reason for its growth as a tool in the training environment. It is also a technical medium we are familiar with, find easy to use and grasp intuitively. If technology is not only a more effective, but more accessible, conduit for skills development, then why don’t we mobilise it for the urgent nation- al project of building the skills base of our youth? You see, this digital competence isn’t just ac-

44 Electricity + Control

SEPTEMBER 2018