Over the next 2 episodes, we've gathered a panel of industry thought leaders from iconic manufacturing brands to discuss how Industry 4.0 is transforming their operations, how the workforce is evolving, and how training and certifications can bridge the skills gap.

This week is all about Industry 4.0 Technology in Manufacturing with leaders from:

  • Harley-Davidson
  • Plexus
  • Generac
  • Greenheck
  • Kohler

3 Big Takeaways from this episode:

  1. SACA certifications are built by industry: In an effort to close the skills gap, the Smart Automation Certification Alliance has developed third-party certifications for Industry 4.0 competencies as defined and validated by industry leaders.
  2. Industry 4.0 requires a whole new set of skills: Each guest shares exactly what new cutting-edge technologies they're investing in. These all require a workforce trained to operate, maintain and program these systems.
  3. The IT/OT convergence: Smart manufacturing means everything is digitally connected. IT and OT are no longer separate silos, which means IT teams must be familiar with OT systems and processes for digital transformation to occur.

Show NotesThe Smart Automation Certification Alliance

SACA is a nonprofit organization that develops and deploys third-party credentials for advanced manufacturing and Industry 4.0 skills - both knowlege-based and hands-on.

What makes them unique? These credentials are designed, built and validated by industrial employers. Employers from this week's episode all took place in technical work groups that determined SACA standards.

SACA certifications are stackable, transferrable and can be utilized in education and industry. To learn more visit https://www.saca.org.

Manufacturing Panel:

  • Al Doty - Advanced Manufacturing Chief Engineer, Harley-Davidson
  • Scott Theune - CEO, Plexus
  • Andy Martin - Senior Director of Manufacturing, Generac
  • Michael DeBroux - Senior Mechanical and Automation Engineer and Engineering Supervisor, Greenheck
  • Jim Molter - IT Manager for Smart Factory Deployment, Kohler

More Resources

Webinar video: https://youtu.be/6QucCDjxhMg

Episode page: https://techedpodcast.com/manufacturing-leadership-panel/

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