Industry 4.0 Human-Oriented Challenges using the example of Additive Manufacturing Technologies

Abstract

Digitalization of the industry opens new possibilities to fulfill customer requirements such as individualized products. Additive Manufacturing is an example of a technology to do so and is part of a development towards Systems Engineering. Adapting the qualification of the workforce is a decisive factor to use successfully new technologies within the broad field of industry 4.0. This paper addresses the issue of how to integrate workforce in the changing process of digitalization based on providing examples from the Additive Manufacturing technology. It shows that work content will change and generally higher skill levels are required. Subsequently, continuous learning and the determination to do so are necessary. Implementing this is a major task for workforce and employers.