Skills are a big issue in our industry. Most companies and the government are pushing hard to increase the number of graduates and apprentices as we strive to address the large numbers of experienced people retiring from the industry in the next few years. But even with the efforts being made the challenge seems huge. The problem of skills shortages features in almost every survey I’ve seen on the subject of the biggest issues we face.
But what can technology do to help address the issue? Digital engineering, component catalogues, offsite manufacture and assembly, and the opportunities of linking BIM to machinery on site seem not only to offer the promise of transforming the construction value chain but also to provide a glimmer of hope in the struggle for skills.
Imagine the roles that would be needed in the design office and the construction site of the future. Much more use of standard components, interface management, system integration and information management. Much less outdoor working, heavy lifting, and potentially getting in harm’s way. Also, moving much of the design activity into the virtual environment and the construction activity into a factory environment changes the employment dynamic, with manufacture taking place in locations where skills are available and can be developed against a consistent demand.
Likewise consider how much knowledge of work processes we have embodied in those who will retire soon. How much of the effort in, say, designing an electrical distribution substation or water pumping station is actually just managing information flows, gathering vendor data and other such activities – is this what we mean by “skills”? At Mott MacDonald we’ve been experimenting in the automation of such processes, and they would appear to release significant amounts of skilled engineering time, as well as speed up project delivery. Again linkage to BIM models could help.
The skills shortage will not go away. But as well as everything we’re doing now, there do seem to be other routes to easing the challenge – both by reducing the amount of work needed and by changing the nature of the work to better suit the capabilities and aspirations of today’s young people. The fact that these routes reduce costs and delivery times, improve quality and enhance safety is an added bonus.
Simon Harrison, group strategic development manager, Mott MacDonald