Attractive Workplaces Through Industry 4.0.

Important results from the project

The Swedish metal industry is facing a technological leap through the introduction of Industry 4.0. To succeed, they must be able to offer attractive workplaces that can attract young people. In a joint project, Luleå University of Technology, a Swedish steel mill, SSAB, and the trade union, IF Metall, have tried to analyse the meaning of the technological transformation and then form recommendations for both attractive workplaces and skills development, something we have called a road map for the future of work in the steel industry.

Expected long term effects

Used correctly, Industry 4.0 can contribute to attractive jobs. Many physical work environment problems can be solved through automation. The psycho-social work environment is more problematic. Automation can create concerns that you will lose your job, and digitization can be perceived as a leap in skills that you cannot cope with. However, the risk of redundancy is small and the new work tasks are often stimulating. The worry of not being able to cope with the new tasks can be met with skills development that leaves no one behind.

Approach and implementation

We focus on the control room and maintenance work of the future as we judge that these are most affected by Industry 4.0. Our project is divided into seven work packages: 1.Industry 4.0 in the metal industry 2.Entrepreneurs 3.Future control room work 4.Future maintenance work 5.Competence development 6.The union and Industry 4.0 7.Summarizing and generalizing Results are reported in four interim reports and a final report where we summarize the results and conclude with a roadmap consisting of 42 recommendations.