The Role of Upskilling in an Automated Future

April 16, 2024 | 4 min read

Sviat Dulianinov and Emilee Liu, Bright Machines' Strategy Team

It should come as no surprise that the dynamics of work and labor are being fundamentally transformed by the advent of automation and generative AI. This transition, which redefines the workplace, is driven by a notable shift towards automation that could encompass up to 30% of hours currently worked across the US economy by 2030. According to insights from McKinsey & Company, this evolution suggests a migration toward upskilled, higher-wage jobs, necessitating as many as 12 million occupational transitions in the next decade. The implications of this shift are profound, creating a changing landscape of employment opportunities for the current workforce.

Backdrop of the Current Labor Market

This also comes at a time when the manufacturing industry has been experiencing a labor shortage. Per the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, approximately 616,000 manufacturing jobs have yet to be filled as of August 2023. The industry faces its older employee base retiring, as well as high turnover rates and challenges associated with repetitive manual labor tasks. The monotony and physical strain of such tasks contribute to worker dissatisfaction, leading to a turnover rate that exceeds that of many other sectors. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the turnover rate in manufacturing is 39.9%, placing additional pressure on companies to continually recruit and train new manual labor employees. This cycle of turnover exacerbates the labor shortage, creating a process that hinders operational efficiency and growth. Addressing these challenges requires a strategic focus on enhancing job satisfaction, improving workplace conditions, and presenting clear pathways for career advancement.

An opportunity for career advancement can come in the form of upskilling. Considering the technological advancements of AI and automation and labor shortage, adopting proactive upskilling strategies is crucial and beneficial to career development. Goldman Sachs reports that AI advancements could make 300 million jobs susceptible to automation worldwide. To adapt, it’s essential to create training programs and apprenticeships for diverse roles, collaborate with educational institutions to close skills gaps, and establish a learning culture across organizations. Encouraging participation in online courses, workshops, and supporting internal career transitions are key steps toward building a resilient workforce to retain talent.

Source: Goldman Sachs

Automated Assembly Increases Upskilling Opportunities

With the current state of the manufacturing workforce today, manual labor is necessary for the repetitive physical tasks that must be done at factory locations. Without a replacement to complete these tasks, it is difficult for the existing workforce to transition to upskilled tasks.

“A solution to this comes in the form of Bright Machines’ full-stack automation solution, which automates tedious manual tasks and frees up operators to focus on other high-value activities.”

A solution to this comes in the form of Bright Machines’ full-stack automation solution, which automates tedious manual tasks and frees up operators to focus on other high-value activities. This shift is made possible by the deployment of Bright Machines Microfactories that can efficiently execute assembly tasks. Focused on AI infrastructure, Bright Machines automates labor-intensive work, such as picking-and-placing CPUs, screwdriving heat sinks, and inserting sharp DIMM cards properly into latches. Using computer vision and machine learning algorithms, Microfactories deliver the same assembly flexibility as human assembly, but with the increased precision and consistency that comes with automation. With advanced underlying software, Bright Machines’ automation provides enhanced assembly capabilities not possible in manual assembly. Built-in force sensors and automatic screwdriving torque measurement provide production performance tracking capabilities with each component inserted or screw secured in place.

Software technology and data connected via cloud further provide operators with enhanced visibility and increased ownership over various production processes. For example, our Line Monitoring and Performance Brightware Insights Apps enable operators to oversee line operations and performance benchmark production outcomes across multiple lines. Advanced automation solutions like ours not only increase production productivity, but also open further avenues for upskilling and personal development within the workforce.

Conclusion

Our path towards a future dominated by automation and generative AI requires a concerted effort towards upskilling, enabling workers to progress to more advanced roles as mundane tasks are automated. A strategic approach to training and development is important to leverage the benefits of automation and AI. As we navigate this transition, it’s critical to not only adapt, but to thrive by ensuring that the workforce is skilled and dynamic. With automation solutions like Bright Machines’ full stack, labor-intensive tasks can be automated to position the existing workforce for the learning and development needed in the evolving landscape of work.

To learn more about our capabilities in building the backbone of AI, visit Bright Machines.