Manufacturers today are facing a severe workforce challenge. The Baby Boom generation that powered these companies’ growth is leaving the workforce to retire, and younger Generation Z are replacing them. Unfortunately for the manufacturers, this can never be a like-for-like replacement; Gen Z to work in a completely different way due to the digital world in which they grew up.
Companies that have successfully negotiated this transition are the ones that have made the best use of technology. In this article, we’ll look at four ways technology is helping manufacturers incorporate Generation Z into their workforce. Let’s get started.
1 - Digital thread
Young people entering the workforce have never known a world without the internet, mobile phones, instant collaboration tools and many other innovations. As a result, they take them for granted, making them non-negotiable in the way they work. If they can’t work with their colleagues on a Google Doc or other cloud-based application, they won’t work at all.
Companies that have made the most impact with Gen Z have undergone a complete digital transformation. This includes implementing a digital thread that makes product data available to the correct people at the right time in the most applicable context. Digital threads improve collaboration, decision-making and, ultimately, business performance.
2 - Talent management
Generation Z demands flexible working. While this may be a massive challenge for manufacturers who tend to run strict schedules, you simply need to adapt if you’re going to recruit and retain the best people.
Some companies have found success by allowing employees to pick their own hours. Others have partnered with local technical schools to train and recruit workers for their specific needs. You can only grow with good people on board, so you need to find what works.
3 - Embracing agile
Product developers are beginning to find success by borrowing agile principles from the software development world. Many Gen Z engineers learned about agile techniques in school, so it comes more naturally to them than older workers.
Agile promotes fast, iterative development cycles, daily team check-ins, focused sprints and continuous customer feedback. It works especially well with global, remote workforces, which suits the new generation well.
4 - Best in Class Design Tools
Generation Z loves technology. They grew up with it and it comes naturally to them. Manufacturers that have managed to recruit, retain and succeed with younger workers have embraced new innovations and discovered ways to incorporate them into workflows.
Innovative companies are now using best in class design tools. Younger people find this an excellent way to learn and retain information as they engage with best-in-class design tools, enabling hands-on experience . These advanced tools streamline the design process by providing instant access to the necessary information, eliminating the need to constantly reference instruction manuals.
Looking to the future
Companies that implement a solid digital infrastructure are better placed to retain talent and innovate, setting themselves up for long-term success in a competitive landscape. If you don’t have your digital ducks in a row in your manufacturing company, now’s the time to start innovating.
Discover more about best in class design tools here: