Industry 4.0: Key Skills for Job Roles | Myskillsfuture.gov.sg (2024)

Industry 4.0: Key Skills for Job Roles

The global working population will slow down its growth rate for 9 out of 10 countries by 2040. Industry 4.0, or I4.0, uses digitalisation and the automation of manufacturing and industrial practices as a solution to tackle this manpower shortage.

What exactly is this fourth industrial revolution? Think of robotics and AI and Internet-of-Things (IoT) technologies. Better yet, think of vaccines mass produced by BioNTech and Sanofi on our sunny, tropical shores.

Singapore has been at the forefront of I4.0 adoption, quickly becoming a global hub for advanced manufacturing and innovation. MNCs such as Micron, Infineon and HP, leaders in the industrial manufacturing sectors, have already set up next-generation manufacturing facilities in Singapore. Local enterprises have also embarked on its I4.0 digital transformation, such as Fong’s Engineering, which now has a lights-out and fully-automated Smart Factory.

Currently, Singapore is the world’s fifth-largest global exporter of high-tech goods. Singapore also produces four of the world’s top ten medicines and is among the world’s top ten exporters of machinery and equipment. The country is ranked second globally—just behind South Korea—for robotic density and manufacturing with 605 robots per 10,000 workers.

Here are key examples of transferable job skills and job roles which are anticipated to grow in I4.0.

Known for its world-class manufacturing ecosystem, Singapore is fast becoming a global hub for advanced manufacturing and innovation. As a matter of fact, one fifth of Singapore’s GDP in 2022 is contributed by the manufacturing sector.

Already in the pipeline is a fully automated Tuas Port, a network of IoT tech at SAT’s new food hub, while Singapore has since adopted the Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI) – the world’s first independent digital maturity assessment for manufacturers—ahead of its global counterparts.

To boost Singapore as a hub for advanced manufacturing known for its business, talent and innovation, the Singapore government has introduced the Manufacturing 2030 plan with the aim to increase manufacturing value analysis (VA) by 50 per cent.

This will not only ensure that Singapore produces and maintains a highly skilled and adaptable workforce, it also supports manufacturing companies increase productivity by reducing downtime and maintenance costs, increasing energy and resource efficiency while driving innovation.

These are some key job skills and job roles in Advanced Manufacturing.

Key Advanced Manufacturing Skills in I4.0

In this millennium, data is king – large amounts of data, innovative interfaces, digital ecosystems and data-driven culture. We are living in an age of the machines – just as science fiction has predicted.

As the work force increasingly places a premium on digital skills across different economies, workers who aim to stay relevant and employable must upskill and reskill in ICT as the global market evolves at a dizzying speed.

Going forward, these ICT skills will form the cornerstone of I4.0 as digitalisation impacts most organisations – big or small.

Key Digital Skills in I4.0

Consumers know what they want, and with climate change and the ongoing depletion of natural resources, what customers want these days are sustainable products. To meet this demand, manufacturing firms respond by committing to various sustainability efforts. This includes reducing and tracking emissions, waste reduction and the use of alternative energy sources from solar panels, turbochargers, hydropower, and more.

In fact, to ensure organisations go green, the Singapore government has introduced a Resource Sustainability Act under the purview of the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources. This is part of Singapore’s strategy to build a sustainable, resource-efficient and climate-resilient nation. Likewise, the Institution of Engineers (IES) has drawn up a Green Plan 2030 for Singapore that involves various initiatives and targets in line with UN’s2030Sustainable Development Agenda and Paris Agreement.

Here are some examples of green skills and job roles rising in demand in I4.0.

Key Green Skills in I4.0

Whenever an industry champions its technical specialists, it also understands its success depends on a tireless team of non-tech support. In fact, non-tech roles are essential to most organisations as they act as a scaffold for the entire ecosystem. This is true particularly for the manufacturing sectors.

As companies redesign work processes across the value chain of I4.0, non-tech job roles such as customer service, sales and human resources evolve at the same time.

To keep relevant, workers in non-tech roles must embrace skills in areas such as human resource digitalisation, process control, artificial intelligence application, cloud computing application, e-commerce management, supply chain management, order fulfilment and returns processing, as well as applications support and enhancement.

Key Skills in Non-Tech Job Roles in I4.0

Skills In Demand in I4.0 Adoption

As the end-to-end manufacturing process becomes more digitalised, connected, efficient and sustainable, a mix of I4.0, digital and green skills are in great demand, including non-tech skills. Read on for in-demand and transferable job skills and job roles in I4.0.

For More Information

For more information about the Care Economy, check outSkills Demand for the Future Economy Report 2022for detailed information about digital jobs and skills.

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