The manufacturing industry is in the midst of a digital transformation, with technological advancements such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) transforming traditional manufacturing processes. Regarding smart manufacturing, using advanced technologies to optimise manufacturing processes has become a key focus for many manufacturers. Data and data professionals with a critical role in smart manufacturing are at the core of this transformation.
Importance of data in smart manufacturing
Data is at the core of smart manufacturing. In a smart manufacturing system, sensors and other devices collect vast data on equipment performance, product quality, and other vital metrics. This data is then analyzed using advanced analytics tools to identify patterns, trends, and insights that can be used to optimise manufacturing processes.
Smart manufacturing systems generate enormous amounts of data that must be effectively collected, stored, managed, and analyzed to ensure its usefulness. Data professionals are instrumental in developing and implementing data architectures, pipelines, and storage solutions that enable effective analysis of manufacturing data.
Critical roles for data professionals in smart manufacturing
Data professionals, including data architects, data engineers, data scientists, and IIoT specialists, can play vital roles in smart manufacturing. Data architects are responsible for designing and implementing data architectures that support smart manufacturing. They work with other data professionals, such as data engineers and data scientists, to create data models that can be used to analyze and optimize manufacturing processes. Data architects are also responsible for ensuring that data is collected, stored, and managed to enable effective analysis.
Data engineers are responsible for designing, building, and maintaining the infrastructure that supports smart manufacturing. They work with data architects to create data pipelines that collect data from sensors and other sources and transfer it to data storage systems. Data engineers also develop and maintain data warehouses and other data storage systems, ensuring they optimize for performance and scalability.
Data scientists play a critical role in smart manufacturing. They are responsible for analyzing the data collected by sensors and other sources to identify patterns, trends, and insights that can be used to optimise manufacturing processes. They use statistical and machine learning techniques to develop predictive models to anticipate equipment failures, improve product quality, and reduce waste.
IIoT specialists are responsible for designing, deploying, and maintaining IoT devices and networks in smart manufacturing systems. They work closely with data architects and data engineers to ensure that IoT devices are integrated into data pipelines and storage systems and that they are collecting the necessary data to enable effective analysis.
Skills required to effectively transition into a data role
Manufacturing professionals interested in transitioning into a data role must have a solid foundation in manufacturing processes and operations. They must understand data management, analysis, visualisation tools, and statistical and machine-learning techniques well.
To be successful in a data role in smart manufacturing, professionals should also have strong communication skills, as they will need to work closely with cross-functional teams, including engineers, data scientists, and business leaders. They should be able to translate technical concepts into business insights and effectively communicate their findings to non-technical stakeholders.
Career trajectory for a data professional in smart manufacturing
Data professionals in smart manufacturing have a wide range of career opportunities. Entry-level roles may include data analyst or data engineer, where they will be responsible for collecting and analyzing manufacturing data. As they gain more experience, they may move into roles such as data scientist or data architect, where they will be responsible for designing and implementing data architectures and analyzing manufacturing data to drive business insights.
Experienced data professionals in smart manufacturing may also have the opportunity to move into leadership roles, where they will oversee data teams and drive the development and implementation of data strategies across the organisation.
With continued learning and professional development, data professionals in smart manufacturing can advance to leadership positions such as Chief Data Officer or Director of Data Science. These positions lead data strategies across the organisation and drive innovation through data-driven decision-making.
While smart manufacturing is witnessing an upward trend in growth, there are still areas that need to be tapped that contain a pool of potential. Along with this growth comes a rushing demand for data professions in the job market. With numerous upskilling platforms providing expert and quality services in the sector, this is the right time to jump into this growing platform.
The growth of smart manufacturing is creating a demand for data professionals in the job market. While this field is expanding, there are still untapped areas with potential for further development. To take advantage of this opportunity, upskilling platforms provide quality services for individuals seeking the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in this growing industry. As technology advances and the need for more efficient and sustainable manufacturing processes increases, the demand for data analytics will continue to rise significantly.
About author
Krishna Kumar is the Founder and CEO of Learnbay, a Bengaluru-based EdTech firm. Learnbay caters to working professionals and helps them grow in their careers via their job-ready data science, artificial intelligence, and machine learning courses. With knowledge of DS, AI, ML training, and curriculum design, Krishna determines training requirements and tailors learning programs at Learnbay by analyzing gaps in the abilities of professionals.