Tech Podcast: New learning in the sign of digital transformation

Dr Maximilian Dommermuth explains in a podcast conversation what the learning journey at Bosch Rexroth looks like, what he wants from the training and where learning is heading.

What are the challenges for companies when it comes to employees and training?

We need to bring together knowledge transfer and digital transformation. Many projects fail because we have not brought people along properly, because there is a lack of knowledge about technologies and processes and because they were never asked. I remember a site manager who saw an AR application at a trade fair and decided to introduce it in the plant. After a year, the AR glasses had disappeared again because fundamental questions like: does this technology solve one of our problems, can we run this economically, were ignored.

Are you the black Peter?

No, my team and I swear by new technologies. The technology also has to fit the processes and people or we have to set up new processes that have to be learned. When introducing new technologies, many companies rely on an agile approach. Agile does not mean haphazard. This is often confused.

The Industry 4.0 debate was very technologically driven for many years, but that has changed in recent years. Why?

Many companies are still in the pilot stage. They lack the socio-technical approach. Industry 4.0 is not just about technology. Companies have to ask themselves: How do I communicate, how do I build up knowledge, how do I lead the employees, what do the processes look like? Many didn't have people on their radar at the beginning.

Building knowledge is a good keyword - how does that work today?

Knowledge is new power for many employees. If people can decide for themselves what they want to learn and do so during their working hours, then we have a very great willingness. Employees can decide on the digital learning platform what will bring them further. We no longer think in terms of strict curricula. That may still be necessary for the forklift licence, but when it comes to new technologies, people need to be supported individually.

What does that mean specifically?

We do a knowledge check at the beginning and then the employee chooses his or her learning topics. The maintenance specialist can learn how to operate a machine more productively over the course of a week, or the IT specialist learns new skills via digital tools independent of time and place. Learning is more diverse today than it used to be.

You can find this and other episodes on the factory of the future in our tech podcast channel "Industry rethought" on all known platforms or you can subscribe directly here via Podigee (only available in German).

Contact person for the Bosch Rexroth Tech Podcast: Susanne Noll

Please feel free to contact Bosch Rexroth!