HP Innovation Journal Issue 14: Spring 2020 | Page 20
SKILLS FOR THE FUTURE
The need to upskill workforces is imperative. According
to 2018 research by consulting firm Korn Ferry, there will
be a global shortfall of 85 million high-skilled workers
by 2030, so as technology moves forward, retraining is
critical to ensure the workforce remains current. The
2018 World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Report
states that “workers will see an average shift of 42% in
required workplace skills in the period leading up to
2022,” and on average will need 101 days of retraining and
upskilling. For Singapore, projections suggest a staggering
labor shortage of 1.1 million out of a workforce of four
million. Manufacturing has played a key role in the Lion
City’s success as it transitioned from a labor-intensive
economy to one fueled by innovation, so much so that
in 2015 manufacturing accounted for almost one-fifth
of GDP. The new HP lab’s focus on additive, digital, and
advanced materials manufacturing, as well as robotics and
automation, is a core component of Singapore’s Research,
Innovation, and Enterprise 2020 Plan.
“The onset of Industry 4.0 is unleashing disruptive
technologies not only in manufacturing but also in
services sectors,” explains Shanti Jagannathan, principal
education specialist, Sustainable Development and
Climate Change at the Asian Development Bank.
“Millions of jobs are likely to be displaced by automation,
but the good news is that adoption of Industry 4.0
will also lead to additional labor demand arising from
productivity increases.” Skills development, she adds, is
critical to mitigate the negative effects of job displacement.
As factories adopt technologies like robotics, artificial
intelligence, and additive manufacturing, there is a great
need for reskilling existing employees for new jobs and
upskilling those whose tasks may dramatically transform
with these technologies.
In the first half of this year, the lab will start courses taught
by HP staff and NTU professors, aimed at retraining the
Singaporean workforce. Offered through the government’s
SkillsFuture program, the courses range from two to
five days and will be focused on 3D printing of advanced
polymer products, as well as medical devices and tissues,
and for building and construction. Up to 200 continuing
education students in the fields of engineering and design
are expected to sign up this year. “We are seeing there is
a clear need for more people to be trained for the future
of manufacturing,” states Regan, adding that giving
people exposure to these subjects is critical. The course
modules will eventually become units of specialization for
undergraduate and postgraduate students at NTU.
BUILDING THE FUTURE OF
DIGITAL MANUFACTURING
Digital manufacturing is a new mode
of production that is transforming the
industry. Some may think of digital
manufacturing as just 3D printing, but
it encompasses much more than that.
Enabled by a computer system, digital
manufacturing is an adaptable process
that allows for constant improvement
while also satisfying customer
demand for customization. It is often
referred to as the Four A’s: artificial
intelligence, automation, additive
manufacturing, and analytics. As
HP has looked holistically across
this space, we identified three
primary research vectors.
MIKE REGAN
Director and CTO, HP-NTU Digital
Manufacturing Corporate Lab
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HP Innovation Journal Issue 14
The first is in 3D additive technology,
where we’re looking at plastics,
metals, and our voxel capabilities.