The European economy is on the precipice of the 4th Industrial revolution, defined by emerging technologies that have the potential to disrupt the careers of millions of workers. Industry 4.0 will increasingly change the way companies do business and, consequently, the skills set needed by their workforce. Current and future workers will need to adapt to new working methods arising from Industry 4.0 by updating their knowledge, skills and competences. However, the current VET programs are not commonly supporting the development of these skills so there is an urgent need to strengthen the VET curricula content in order to equip VET learners with key competencies required by Industry 4.0 jobs. Into the group of those learners fall SME decision makers who as the current state of art suggests, are not aware of Industry 4.0 potential, but also risks and challenges. This is a knowledge gap which needs to be addressed. Industry 4.0 (Ind4.0) is a term for the next revolution in industrial production involving comprehensive networking and computerisation of all areas of production. The so called full-circle of Industry 4.0 is composed of Internet of things, Additive Manufacturing, Systems Integration, Big Data, Augmented Reality, Cyber Security, Simulation, Autonomous Systems and Cloud Computing. The challenges in implementing all those components are massive, not only for SMEs, but also for large corporations. Clearly not all technologies are immediately applicable for SMEs, however the technology can be implemented step by step, using good practices and easing financial costs over short time. Recent developments indicate that the biggest impulse for the popularisation of Industry 4.0 comes from large industries. They have the resources to switch to networked production and the economic benefits for them are already high. The impact of Industry 4.0 increases with every new network partner, so large companies will encourage their SME suppliers to adapt to this trend. For many SMEs, this change might not be optional, either they adapt to the new business reality, or risk losing the market. The main aim of the SEE4.0 project is to strengthen key competences (required by Industry 4.0) of SMEs owners and managers through developing innovative training materials in order to train and equip this group with Industry 4.0 relevant knowledge, skills and competences. SMEs having owners and managers aware of Ind4.0 and equipped with skills to implement Ind4.0 solutions, that are inevitable in today's and future business market conditions, will have ability to gain competitiveness. It will do it through developing an Introducing Industry 4.0 to SMEs – practical implementation paper, SEE4.0 modular training components and SEE4.0 toolkit with customised learning paths. The content produced by the project will be tailored to the needs of learners, as practical as possible, with case studies and best practices gathered right from the field where SME operate, in contrast to many already available theoretical materials, coming from research organisations or consulting companies, hardly applicable in SME settings. Target groups The primary target group are SME owners, managers at various levels and all personnel delegated to pursuing Industry 4.0 challenges. Secondary target group are VET trainers, training organizations and identified stakeholders, related to SME-connected structures (e.g. Chambers of Commerce, Clusters, Business Clubs, professional organisations) and Public officials responsible for VET policy-making. The partners in the project are: 1. Danmar Computers LLC (Poland) – applicant, SME with expertise in e-learning, ICT, VET 2. Ludor Engineering (Romania) - SME with expertise in I4.0 /3D printing / CAD / CAM / IoT 3. FYG (Spain) - SME with expertise in I4.0 and VET training 4. University “Politechnika” of Bucharest (Romania) - Technical University; Curricula and courseware expert 5. MECB (Malta) - SME with expertise in I4.0 /robotics /automation / IoT 6. HCCI (Greece) - Chamber of Commerce supporting SMEs across Europe with particular focus on business innovation 7. KAINOTOMIA (Greece) - Well-established VET institution cooperating with SMEs and understanding their business needs The main expected impact of the project is the reduction of the skills mismatch related to Ind4.0 by equipping SMEs owners and managers with the SEE4.0 training toolkit and allowing them to acquire IND4.0 skills that are inevitable in today's and future business market conditions.
The partnership as a whole wanted to achieve its aim which was to strengthen key competences (required by Industry 4.0) of SMEs owners and managers through developing innovative training materials in order to train and equip this group with Industry 4.0 relevant knowledge, skills and competences. In addition to the overall goal, partners had the following expectations: being at the forefront of innovation on the market and having qualified staff aware of Industry 4.0 benefits, having potential for being able to advice other SMEs on Industry 4.0 components, having better recognition of Industry 4.0 components suitable for supporting day-to-day activities, extending cooperation with SMEs from own networks and beyond.
The partners applied for the project in order to achieve common goal which was strengthening the competences required by Industry 4.0 of SMEs owners and managers by equipping them with Industry 4.0 relevant knowledge and skills. Each partner organisation understood the challenges in implementing Industry 4.0 components, especially in the case of SMEs. However, even if not all technologies are immediately applicable for SMEs, the technology can be implemented step by step, using good practices and easing financial costs over short time. Partners wanted to fill in the knowledge gap among the SME decision makers in the area of Industry 4.0 potential but also its risks and challenges. All partners were also interested in having the innovative for them toolkit in which development they could participate.