Manufacturing Industry is Seeing a Skills-Gap That Technology Created, But Can Solve

The age-old adage of “knowledge is power” has evolved into “knowledge is digital.” In today’s fast-paced manufacturing world, there’s a gap widening between experienced craftsmen, who have honed their skills over decades, and the tech-savvy newcomers who expect instant access to information. This so-called “skills gap” is far from new, but what sets it apart today is the urgency to preserve legacy knowledge and infuse it into next-gen technologies. This latest trend is ensuring that the knowledge of experienced workers is digitized.

This latest trend is ensuring that the knowledge of experienced workers is digitized.

But more than just preserving knowledge, it’s about fostering a synergy between the old and new. This demands a shift in how we view education, training, and technology. Derek Degeest, president of LestaUSA and DeGeest Steel Works, is a frontliner in leveraging technology to bridge this gap. He offered some background into this evolving dynamic for a “LestaUSA” episode.