The Fourth Revolution: Is Industry 4.0 Changing Manufacturers’ Skill Sets for the Better?

 

In this episode of The Fourth Revolution by Bartell, Pettibone President and CEO Barbara Philibert went into detail on that, when it comes to Industry 4.0, the key to optimizing processes and performance in a global economy is data. “What a universal language data has become,” she said as she recalled a meeting in China where data helped bridge the language barrier.

Growing up in rural Iowa, manufacturing was a simple affair, Philibert said. Reflecting on her 30-year career in the industry, she noted that manufacturing has evolved into a complex and global behemoth, which present benefits and challenges.

The production floor has also undergone a data-influenced transformation. Decades ago, when Philibert would venture onto the job site, the production leads would guide her through the site, physically showing her manufacturing progress. Now they’re using tablet computers to show her how they make it and the data to go along with it.

These small and large shifts toward data usage on the manufacturing floor have created a shift in the workforce. Workers are having to adjust their skill sets to match a more analytical future for the floor, whether that means software usage or data comprehension.

Is the industry ready for this change? Philibert gives her take on the podcast, breaking down how the combination of a generation of workers aging out of the industry and a lack of information around careers in manufacturing is setting the stage for a lack of skilled workers and forcing companies to address the changing standard for manufacturing skills.

The CEO sees how younger employees in manufacturing are natural at using technology, and she advocated for high schools and guidance counselors to encourage more young people to seek long-term careers in the industry. Faced with a current skilled labor shortage, she has some advice for manufacturing companies: “Reach out to the community colleges, reach out to your schools… invite [them] in to show them what we can do.”

For the latest news, videos, and podcasts in the AEC Industry, be sure to subscribe to our industry publication.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @AECMKSL
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

emergency response planning
Improving Emergency Response Planning in Schools
April 22, 2025

In this episode of School Safety Today by Raptor Technologies, host Dr. Amy Grosso sits down with Dr. Vincent Iturralde, Chief Operations Officer for North Chicago School District 187. Dr. Iturralde shares insights from his educational journey, emphasizing the need for schools to update emergency response protocols, strengthen communication systems, and prioritize collaboration over…

Read More
AI in marketing
From Queries to Conversations with AI in Marketing Analytics
April 21, 2025

In this episode of the SparkCast, Aby Varma—founder of Spark Novus, a firm that helps marketing leaders adopt AI responsibly and strategically—sits down with Daniel Kravtsov, CEO and Co-Founder of Improvado. Daniel shares his unique journey from Russia to founding a cutting-edge martech company in the Bay Area. Together, they explore how AI agents…

Read More
ESA
ESA Success Requires Strategy, Infrastructure, and Support Beyond Legislation
April 21, 2025

As education savings accounts (ESAs) gain traction across the United States, the conversation is shifting from policy debates to the complexities of implementation. Fueled by post-pandemic dissatisfaction with traditional school models and a desire for more customizable educational options, ESAs are being adopted in a growing number of states, often under “universal” frameworks. But…

Read More
supply chain data analytics
Supply Chain Data Analytics Fails Without Clean Data, Ventagium Delivers the Fix
April 21, 2025

Supply chain leaders face an overwhelming volume of siloed data across ERPs, TMS platforms, and warehouse systems, yet few know how to align it for smarter decisions. The stakes are rising fast. According to Capgemini’s 2024 report Data: A Powerful Ally in Tackling Scope 3 Emission Reduction Targets, 85% of organizations cite data access…

Read More