Eye Tracking Technology

Improving the Skills Gap, Efficiency, and Quality Assurance in Aerospace Manufacturing

Much debate surrounds the skills shortage burdening the manufacturing sector of aerospace and defense (A&D). Industry 4.0, the Baby Boomer retirement wave, and a lack of properly trained workers underpins this issue, and while it's widely acknowledged, there's no clearly defined way to address it.

Figures vary on how extensive this issue is and what impact it will have on productivity-Deloitte forecasts that by 2025 the U.S. manufacturing sector as a whole will see a trained worker shortfall of about 2 million. The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) claims almost 40% of companies in its network “predict an ‘extreme’ impact on their business growth caused by this labor shortage.” At the center of this is a dependence on those with skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). STEM workers are in high demand, and while there's a steady stream of graduates with relevant qualifications, ongoing education and training is needed to keep pace with the rapid technological changes taking place within the A&D manufacturing industry.