Push to deepen manufacturing workers' skills

25 Jul 2018

Article featured a new training framework for the manufacturing industry. Developed by the labour movement, it encourages manufacturing workers to deepen their skills in four areas: process automation, the Internet of Things, data analytics and artificial intelligence. There are two training initiatives tied to the new skills framework. The first is a series of bite-sized two-hour seminars accompanied by a mobile app. The 20 seminars across 17 topics were curated by the Nanyang Technological University's College of Professional and Continuing Education. The second initiative, which is a collaboration with SP, will offer laboratory and process technicians the chance to get professionally certified via an assessment-only pathway. Technicians who have gained the relevant skills after years of job experience can choose to be assessed, and those deemed to be qualified will receive professional certification as laboratory technicians without having to go through courses. Others with specific skill gaps can sign up for any one of 10 bite-sized modules by SP, which take up to four hours each, to bridge the gaps before getting the professional certificates. New entrants can receive the same SP certification by completing 10 modules, each of which involves seven hours of learning. The new skills framework will benefit 1,500 professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) in the manufacturing sector. (The Straits Times, pA6)