Industrial automation requires skills rethink

After more than a decade and a half in the technology industry, I have not come across institutions that do not have a few staff allergic to change. In most industries, automation has been the most dreaded. Whether an employee likes it or not, clearly traditional jobs will eventually be wiped out, and even those jobs that fall disproportionately on communities that are built on industrial sectors like mining and agriculture. New jobs emerging in industrial technology are not likely to replace those lost as a result of automation. I was having a chat yesterday with an Agri-industry expert who was involved in a research that investigated the outcomes of autonomous and remote operation technologies in the agriculture industry in sub Saharan Africa. In their research, they found the automation of agricultural practices tasks in countries like South Africa, Kenya, Namibia, Zambia and Tanzania has provided safety and efficiency, but was also likely to result in the loss of on-site jobs, with new skills training required to match advancements in technology as has been witnessed in tea farming areas in Kenya’s Rift Valley region and Kilimanjaro area in Tanzania.

While jobs in the agriculture sector were not likely to fall on aggregate, the shift of roles and their location was an issue to many locals and even in some countries employee organizations have raised an alarm about the long-term consequences. There is need for those designing and implementing automation technology in Agriculture sector across Africa to engage in consultation with education institutions and training facilitators to ensure they acquire workforces with the right skills coming through the Agri-industry in the future. Most companies in Africa have somewhat been secretive about automation due to their competitive nature and they should be able to agree on the need for a skilled workforce. Ensuring an appropriate supply of skilled labour is a common point of interest between companies. However, there is need to better understanding between the employer and employees. In addition to that, I feel that governments and other research companies should investigate the interface between workers and technology, recommending technology developers and agriculture business companies adopt an operator centred approach to development and deployment. There is no doubt such user-centred approach would involve operators in the design of technology, and deliver more widespread standardization of technology and equipment especially in the operator interface.