2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Preparing the manufacturing workforce for Industry 4.0 technology implementation

Presented at Manufacturing Workforce Development

Industry 4.0 is projected to add $2.2 trillion to domestic GDP by 2025. The estimated maximum value of the operational transformation brought by Industry 4.0 to the global manufacturing industry is $3.7 trillion dollars per year. To remain competitive, manufacturers need to be able to rapidly adapt to changing markets, which requires having a well-prepared workforce. It has been reported that 27% of manufacturers are not able to expand their production due to lack of a properly skilled workforce. This challenge is exacerbated by a declining, experienced baby-boomer workforce, with an estimated 10,000 boomers retiring each day through 2029.
This paper reports findings from an industry survey and from a series of workshop discussions with industry professionals, academic researchers, and OEM manufacturers. The goals of the workshop were to discuss success stories, challenges, and opportunities related to workforce development and the implementation of Industry 4.0 within manufacturing enterprise settings.

Authors

Dr. Sheng-Jen Hsieh Texas A&M University [biography]

Dr. Sheng-Jen ("Tony") Hsieh is a Professor in the Department of Engineering Technology and Industrial Distribution and a member of the Graduate Faculty at Texas A&M University. His research interests include automation, robotics, cyber-manufacturing and Industry 4.0; optical/infrared imaging and instrumentation; micro/nano manufacturing; and design of technology for engineering education. He is also the Director of the Rockwell Automation Laboratory at Texas A&M University, a state-of-the-art facility for education and research in the areas of automation, robotics, and Industry 4.0 systems. He was named Honorary International Chair Professor for National Taipei University of Technology in Taipei, Taiwan, for 2015-21. Dr. Hsieh received his Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.
Dr. Marilyn Barger FLATE (Florida Advanced Technological Education Center of Excellence) [biography]

Dr. Marilyn Barger is the Senior Educational Advisor of FLATE, the Florida Advanced Technological Education Center, part of the FloridaMakes Network. FloridaMakes is the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Center in Florida, but previously FLATE was founded and funded by the National Science Foundations Advanced Technological Education (NSF-ATE) as a Regional Center of Excellence. FLATE’s mission is to support manufacturing education in K-14 programs through outreach, professional development, curriculum reform and technician research. She earned a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering/Environmental from the University of South Florida and served on the Engineering faculty at Hofstra University and the FSU-FAMU College of Engineering. Dr. Barger has authored over 50 papers for presentations on engineering and technology education, serves on several national advisory boards for CTE and workforce education initiatives, and is a Fellow of the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) and the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE). Dr. Barger holds a licensed patent and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Florida.
Ms. Suzy Gorospes Marzano Society of Manufacturing Engineers
Dr. Juan Song Alamo Colleges District [biography]

Dr. Juan Song is Corporate Account Executive in Alamo College at San Antonio, TX. She oversees secondary and post-secondary training in manufacturing and liaison between Alamo College and manufacture partners.

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