Towards competence development for industry 4.0

Abstract

Technological changes always bring new opportunities and risks that can modify the existing marketplace. This is also valid for the Industry 4.0 trend, which raises hopes on one side and fears on the other. Especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) cannot ignore this challenge, if they want to prosper in the future. They certainly need technological support that can assist them in planning, steering, and monitoring the transition process as well as in up-skilling their employees. Design and development of such a system is the aim of the ADAPTION project. In this article we report on this ongoing work, especially on the tool using the newly created progress and maturity models, but also on the related competence development approach. These efforts should enhance the palette of novel methodologies and facilities that are needed to efficiently support workplace learning and training under new circumstances.