Manufacturing companies significantly contribute to the competitiveness of a country. However, they are facing a growing challenge - the skills shortage. According to a report from the European Commission from 2022, manufacturing companies in Europe are among the most affected sectors. To counteract this shortage and continue being successful, companies must qualify and further educate their employees systematically. In this blog post, we will explain how Selmo Academy plays a vital role in addressing the skills shortage in the industry, especially in PLC programming.
The training for PLC programmers currently presents numerous challenges. The primary one is the absence of a uniform education for PLC programmers. Typically, professionals have completed vocational training or have a degree in computer science, mechanical engineering, or electrical engineering and only acquire skills to work with manufacturer-specific development tools on the job. Consequently, many of their abilities are self-taught through trial and error.
Due to this education gap, many issues arise in practice. Programmers often develop their individual programming styles, which complicates teamwork and leads to significant friction in projects. Understanding fundamental principles is often lost by copying and adapting existing program modules. This results in isolated pockets of knowledge that can be lost when an employee leaves the company, a situation that needs to be addressed promptly due to the impending retirement wave.
Selmo has recognized the persistent challenge of companies and developed a training program that enables employees to automate machines and production processes easily and quickly.
The patented technology of Selmo allows hardware-independent programming of PLC controls without the need to write a single line of code. Instead of traditional programming, we rely on process modeling, automatically converted into error-free PLC programs.
Selmo creates an end-to-end digitization concept with clear guidelines for machine programming, enabling a controlled implementation of production processes. This leads to a uniform communication basis for all parties involved and significantly contributes to quality assurance, as all employees possess a similar level of knowledge.
In addition to the qualification problem described earlier, the skills shortage in many areas is exacerbated by outdated corporate structures that lead to inefficient processes. Selmo's technology unlocks the full potential of digitization by transforming inefficient processes and replacing them with contemporary, digital, and automated workflows.
The increase in efficiency enables an optimal redistribution and training of the workforce, ensuring preparedness for the future and effectively addressing the skills shortage.
We would be delighted to accompany you on this journey – learn more about our Selmo Academy and further steps.
Source:
Report European Commission