As Europe seeks to retain its leading position for industrial competitiveness, there is an urgent need to establish a platform for Additive Manufacturing (AM) skills at European, National and Regional levels. AM processes enable economic component production through efficient use of materials and increased design freedom as compared to conventional manufacturing. AM also raises the level of digital literacy among workers and it contributes to the digitisation of European Industry. The Sector Skills Strategy in Additive Manufacturing Project (SAM) tackles the current European need of developing an efective system to identify and anticipate the right skills for the Additive Manufacturing (AM) sector demands in response to the increasing labour market needs, thus, contributing for the smart, sustainable and inclusive growth of the AM sector.Sam project main features are: - A Skills Strategy in Additive Manufacturing providing solutions capable to foster and support the growth, the innovation and competitiveness of the AM sector;- A methodology for a sustainable and continuous assessment of current and future skills needs in AM trough the Observatory in Additive Manufacturing, providing just in time mapping and monitoring of the AM industry technological trends, skills shortages and mismatches, policies and figures; - Design, review and deploy of relevant qualifications in the AM sector, built with a learning outcomes approach and linked with EU Frameworks and Tools such as the EQF, e-CF, EntreComp, ECVET and ECTS;- Promotion of the attractiveness of the AM sector as a career choice for primary, general education, VET and university’s students Awareness Campaign in the field of AM; and- One online Qualifications catalogue to continuously update and enlarge the European AM Qualification System, integrating all the developed and to be developed sectoral qualifications.
•Build a sector skills strategy in Additive Manufacturing (AM); •Assess and anticipate skills (gaps and shortages) in AM;•Support with data the IAMQS and foster wideness of its scope;•(Re) design professional profiles according to the industry requirements;•Develop specific relevant qualifications to be delivered for the AM Sector; •Increase the attractiveness of the sector to young people, whilst promoting gender balance;•Strengthen education-research-industry partnerships.
SAM project addresses the development of an effective system and strategy to identify and anticipate the right skills for the Additive Manufacturing (AM) Sector, providing an answer to this issue and contributing towards AM’s smart, sustainable and inclusive growth for the next years. A key element of SAM’s strategy is the establishment of an AM Observatory and the implementation of the International AM Qualification System for the AM sector (IAMQS).
<< Background >> SAM project addresses the development of an effective system and strategy to identify and anticipate the right skills for the Additive Manufacturing (AM) Sector, providing an answer to this issue and contributing towards AM’s smart, sustainable and inclusive growth for the next years. A key element of SAM’s strategy is the establishment of an AM Observatory and the implementation of the International AM Qualification System for the AM sector (IAMQS). << Objectives >> •Build a sector skills strategy in Additive Manufacturing (AM); •Assess and anticipate skills (gaps and shortages) in AM;•Support with data the IAMQS and foster wideness of its scope;•(Re) design professional profiles according to the industry requirements;•Develop specific relevant qualifications to be delivered for the AM Sector; •Increase the attractiveness of the sector to young people, whilst promoting gender balance;•Strengthen education-research-industry partnerships. << Implementation >> SAM main implementation activities refer to:•Setting up the European AM Observatory Qualification and Industrial Councils•Setting up & update the AM Observatory with data on AM skills needs, shortages and mismatches•Development of the AM Sector Skills Strategy Roadmap 2023, with 30 recommendations for stakeholders•Update of the IAMQS with new professional profiles and skills•Implementation and national roll out of IAMQS•Setting up the European AM Skills Network•Raise Awareness campaigns << Results >> SAM has been able to define the priorities of the European AM Sector Skills Strategy, start the AM Observatory forecast activity, review existing AM profiles and implement the IAMQS within the partnership and among Associated Partners. At the same time, SAM gained visibility among the AM community and gave visibility to the Sector needs, by supporting the PACT for Skills and by engaging with key actors applying AM technology or willing to do so.