Effects of industry 4.0 on the skill set of future engineers

This paper provides an overview about the changes and challenges that appear due to Industry 4.0. The purpose of this article is to evaluate how Industry 4.0 is influencing the world of work, particularly with a focus on the effects of skill sets for future engineers. It will benefit students and young engineers, helping them prepare for future jobs, but also help HR departments in their candidate review to validate the perfect fit. Furthermore, the educational sector could use it to adapt their curriculum on the demands of the market. The practical research completed for this article was in the form of several interviews conducted with experts to evaluate a skillset framework. The interviewees are all top-level managers and experts in the fields of human resources or Industry 4.0. The framework is the result of the corresponding bachelor thesis, built on a questionnaire with a wide-ranging participation and related interviews. The chosen methodology and the research basis are introduced, and the results reviewed. These results are then transferred into a possible model for a future engineer. The literature review showed that the effects of Industry 4.0 on the future workforce are still an emerging topic, with only few theoretical and academic research papers available so far. While there are many ideas, wishes or beliefs by employers and employees alike, there are currently no specific guidelines or models available to describe our future workforce. This study is a first attempt at modelling search profiles as well as knowledge about company needs in terms of human resource development. It enables a better knowledge of the industrial sector to focus on trends of the future.