Adapt to disruptive technologies in Industry 4.0 scenario to be in the race: SK Dwivedi    

Armed with 28 years of rich career in HRD and IRs in Automobile Manufacturing, Consumer Durables, Lighting, Solar and Logistics domains, SK Dwivedi – the author of this article is an accomplished HR Professional. A visiting faculty in many Engineering and Management Institutions and Industrial Associations, Dwivedi also heads Rajasthan Chapter of Professional Networking Group of India (PNGI). The PNGI is organizing HR Excellence Awards 2019 on coming SUNDAY, December 1, and he is one of the Jury members too in it. Asian Community News (ACN) Network is the Media Partner for the event. 

By SK Dwivedi 

Industry 4.0  Scenario and Changing Role of Human Resources Professionals

The Industrial Scenario in India is changing very fast. Industry 4.0 sees the introduction of disruptive new technologies; the Business Environment is witnessing a rapid change. Automation, Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence will lead to the Business Environment.

Industry 4.0 is commonly referred to as the “Fourth Industrial Revolution” and is set to fundamentally alter the way we live, work and relate to one another.  Implementation will mean radically changing the information framework and business processes of your entire operation. 4.0 Industrial Revolution will be a real VUCA World.  

Characteristics of 4.0 Industrial Revolution

1. Agility- Business Environment will be highly fragile, disruptive innovation will lead to the business propositions. Globalization will drive the competitive cost, services and also the customer value propositions. The industry would need the soil which cultivates and grow the Innovation.
2. Automation– Artificial Intelligence will be the prime focus and will lead to efficiency and customer experiences. In each and every business scaling and efficiency will be the prime drive. Robotics, IoT, SMART Manufacturing, SMART Transportation System are some of the best examples to quote here.
3. Organization Structure – Organization structures will need the highest amount of agility, flexibility, and adaptability. Liquid structures will replace the Hierarchy based Organization Structures. Project-Based Structures, Matrix Structures will be needed for the business than the fixed structures. Long-life employment will be replaced by Project-Based Structures.
4. Optimization – Optimization will be a key factor for the survival of the business. Every process viz- Manufacturing, Research and Development, Design, Sales and Marketing, Customer and of course, People Processes will drive towards the lowest cost of high-value proposition leading to excellent customer experience.
5. People- Industry will need agile people. Every professional have to deal and cope up with the fast-changing scenario. Instant response to the business challenges and customer expectations, faster adaptability and the highest degree of resilience will be a way of life. Only those employees with high emotional quotient and a positive mindset would survive who could sustain and grow in above VUCA Business Environment.

Role of Human Resources Professionals–

It will be really testing time for all HR Professionals. They will be expected to drive this SMART transition to Industry 4.0 Environment.  Hence, they have to master the Art of Team Management. The following will be a key role of all HR Professionals in the above scenario.

1. Change for Transformation– HR has to lead and drive the Change Transformation Process. Hence, the first HR to learn this process and then lead the Business Teams.
2. Business Values– Despite the rapidly changing business scenario, HR must own up the Business Values, Ethics in line with the Business Vision and Mission of the Organization and build all the HR Processes robust based on the Strong Guiding Principles.
3. Re-skilling – of the task force in industries and making them Industry 4.0 ready. Class Room Training, Vestibule Trainings, OTJ Programs, Projects Learning with good command over the IT and IoT will be required for this purpose. Succession Planning for critical roles and grooming employees for those roles will be a basic expectation from HR.
4. Mentoring and Coaching– Preparing people for Multi-Tasking, Mentor and Coach them to handle different roles within the same organization. Groom them up who could lead team, business projects tomorrow. The business would be expecting HR to work on High Employees Value Propositions and Offering back to be Business.
5. Employee Retention – Retaining the best talent and keeping them emotionally connected with the Business will be a big challenge for all HR Professionals in Industry 4.0 Environment hence keeping Employees highly engaged, motivated and result orientated even in difficult business situations would be a key expectation from all HR Professionals.

About PNGI HR Excellence Awards:

At PNGI HR Excellence Awards, we are creating a platform for HR Professionals for mutual learning from the best practices being exercised by Industries. The Members include Industries from diverse business operations/ domains like  – Manufacturing Industries, Service Industries, Consumer Products, IT and others as well. The objectives of the event are to share the Benchmark Practice with the member organizations and appreciate their best endeavors to take the businesses to the next level.

Also read: Let’s Embrace Attrition and NOT run Away: Meenakshi Khera

Also read: PNGI HR Excellence Awards 2019: Nominations reopened as top Cos make beeline for awards

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