Closing manufacturing’s AI skills gap: A conversation with Carolyn Lee

In this episode of Catalyst, Tammy is joined by Carolyn Lee, President of the Manufacturing Institute, a nonprofit workforce development organization affiliated with the National Association of Manufacturers. Carolyn grew up in a manufacturing family on Long Island and spent years on Capitol Hill before making her way to workforce development. Tammy and Carolyn dive into the AI knowledge gap that exists on the shop floor, the dignity of work, the hero narrative and what it has to do with AI adoption.

Highlights from the episode include:

• Bringing the AI conversation to the factory floor. While AI is a common topic in executive meetings, awareness drops sharply on the production floor. Research from the Manufacturing Leadership Council points to this knowledge gap as one of the biggest barriers to deploying AI in the industry. Carolyn and Tammy also discuss how fear, particularly the fear of being replaced, keeps the AI conversation in the C-suite.
• Skills and culture have to move together. Workers need training on new tools, but if the culture doesn't change with it, the training won't stick. Adopting new skills goes hand-in-hand with adapting to the changes that come with it. If we want manufacturing to continue to thrive, culture must be core to the effort.
• Reframe what it means to be the hero. Some maintenance workers have built their identity around being called in to save the day by fixing the problem. If new technology threatens that, adoption will be a non-starter. Carolyn stresses how important it is to keep the hero identity alive as you introduce new technology.

Check out the full episode to learn more about Manufacturing Day and how it’s opening doors to modern manufacturing careers. Plus, what Carolyn’s kids are teaching her about achieving a better balance at work and in life.

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Please note that the views expressed in this episode may not necessarily be those of NTT DATA.