Themes and knowledge program

The existence of the metalworking manufacturing industry plays a crucial role in our society. We use the metalworking manufacturing industry for a wide range of products, such as various car parts, electronics and building materials. Yet the pressure to become more sustainable is increasing in the metalworking manufacturing industry. The industry faces various challenges such as the impact on the environment, energy use, raw material consumption and waste production. There are promising developments that could have a positive impact on sustainability in the sector.

Circular production is a major challenge. The manufacturing industry produces a lot of waste in the form of unused and surplus products. By using materials more efficiently, manufacturers can reduce their ecological impact. Using processes more efficiently also helps save costs and improves competitive position.

• Energy and emissions: Metal processing is often energy-intensive and causes emissions of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide. Reducing energy consumption and therefore also harmful gases are essential objectives. This is a complex task due to the nature of the industrial processes.
• Raw materials and waste: The metalworking manufacturing industry uses large amounts of raw materials, which also produces a significant amount of waste in the form of surplus materials and scrap. It is therefore important to keep the ecological impact as small as possible.
• Technological transition: Adopting sustainable technologies and production methods often require a large investment, which means a financial hurdle for many companies. Especially for small and medium-sized enterprises. This means that the transition to sustainability can take place less quickly.
• Competition and market demand: In a competitive market, the focus of sustainability can sometimes be lost from view. Sometimes decisions have to be made based on economic considerations and competitive pressure. By investing in sustainable products, costs increase, which puts the company at a disadvantage compared to their competitors. Stimulating sustainability should be addressed.
• Regulation: There is a lack of clear regulations and policy frameworks in the field of sustainability. The lack of consistent standards and incentives leads to uncertainty and inconsistencies in addressing sustainability issues. The implementation of clear regulations and incentive measures can help to create a better environment for sustainability.

The shortage of personnel is a growing problem in the metalworking manufacturing industry. The metalworking manufacturing industry is an important player in the production of many goods, such as cars, machines or construction materials. As the aging population increases, there is a shortage of skilled workers.

The biggest challenges for the labor shortage in the metalworking manufacturing industry are:

• Aging: A large number of professionals are retiring. Fewer skilled workers are becoming available, creating a shortage. It is difficult for companies to find experienced employees.
• Lack of skills: Due to rapid technological developments, there is a major lack of knowledge of advanced machines and computer-controlled systems. The shortage of employees makes it difficult to optimize production processes.
• Competition: There is growing competition for talent in the metalworking manufacturing industry. Companies are fighting a battle to recruit and retain qualified employees. This leads, for example, to wage increases, which affects the profitability of a company.
• Education: There is a lack of appropriate education and training programs that prepare prospective employees from school for a career. Improving access to technical education and the promotion of these courses can already make a positive contribution.
• Automation: Robotics and automation help increase productivity. This makes production less dependent on skilled workers. These developments mean that specialized knowledge and skills are required.

Automation in the metalworking manufacturing industry leads to an improvement in efficiency, accuracy and competitive position. The counterpart of automation is that the dependence on manual labor is less. In the metalworking manufacturing industry, automation brings both opportunities and challenges. The most important challenges are:

• Cost: In the long run, automation is cost effective, but significant capital investments must be made first. It is difficult for small to medium-sized companies in the metalworking manufacturing industry to make this investment.
• Complexity: The implementation of automation systems is a complex process. This includes, for example, integrating new equipment with the machines, training staff and adapting processes to make it more efficient.
• Change: Technologies are constantly evolving. For companies looking to implement automation, this means they need to offer ongoing training and development. This is of course more difficult for smaller companies.
• Labor market: Automation is driving a skills shift. The work remains, but the actions change. At the same time, this leads to a challenge in finding enough qualified personnel.
• Flexibility: Automation takes away a form of flexibility. Machines are often designed for specific tasks and cannot deviate from them. Naturally, this poses challenges for companies that have to adapt to changing market demands.
• Maintenance: Automation systems require regular maintenance and repairs to ensure optimal performance. Machine downtime entails additional costs. Especially when a company does not have sufficient resources, including qualified technicians.

Digitalization in the metalworking manufacturing industry is a great development, but it brings with it various opportunities and challenges, such as:

• Investments: New technologies often lead to significant investments. When considering investments, consider machines, software, but also the training of the staff who will have to work with them. These costs pose challenges for small to medium-sized businesses.
• Complex technology: The technologies used in digitalization are complex. Think of the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) and big data analysis. It requires specialized knowledge and skills to use such technology effectively.
• Data security: Due to the increase in digitalization, concerns about security and privacy are also increasing. Companies must also protect the data they collect from companies that want to hack them. That is why the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was created to ensure that companies ensure good data protection.
• Skills change: Employees’ skills change due to digitalization. The traditional tasks of an employee in the metalworking manufacturing industry are changing due to automation and digital technologies. As a result, skilled personnel must be found or current employees may choose to be retrained.
• Standardization: In an increasingly digitally driven world, it is important that machines communicate effectively with each other. Therefore, think carefully about standardization or protocols that are crucial for the smooth operation of the production process.
• Business processes: Digitalization leads to a change in business processes of the metalworking manufacturing industry. It is important for a company to bring about a change in culture.
• Cyber ​​attacks: Connectivity between machines is increasing. As a result, metalworking companies increasingly have to take cybersecurity measures to keep hackers and other malicious parties out.