Working environments
How digitalization is changing the working world at voestalpine Weichensysteme
7. February 2018
How digitalization is changing the working world at voestalpine Weichensysteme
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Christopher Eberl
Christopher Eberl is editorially responsible for the topics on the blog as well as for the apprentice website. With his stories he provides deep insights into the diverse world of the voestalpine Group.
Digitalization is changing the working world at voestalpine Weichensysteme GmbH, and many job tasks. And also the search for suitable employees.
Times are changing, and the transition from automation to digitization is also altering the working world. On average, 15% of jobs worldwide will massively change by 2030. And during this time, up to 375 million workers will have to switch occupations. How are things looking at voestalpine?
Higher qualification is mandatory
Times are changing in turnout production. Not only are processes and occupations being digitized, so are the products we are producing. For Markus Wehr, Head of HR for the turnout technology area at voestalpine VAE GmbH, it is clear that digitization in the company can only succeed when the focus is on the employees as a central resource. As the real and virtual world become more interconnected, the company and its employees face new challenges.
"It is necessary to specifically prepare the employees and upgrade their skills by offering suitable training measures. This also applies to the employees in HR. It is important that HR managers make the most of this opportunity and be actively involved in shaping the digitization process."
Occupational changes
Optimization and digitization will also alter occupations at voestalpine Weichensysteme GmbH. For many years, for example, tool allocation was a job that didn’t require any digital knowledge. As the processes continue to change, and available digitization methods are used for equipment and software packages in production, this position will also require higher qualifications. As Heinz Schatz, COO at voestalpine Weichensysteme GmbH, explains, “Computer aided manufacturing (CAM) and fully integrated digital processes, for example, require new tool management that is not possible unless the employee has specific skills.”
New occupations require digital professionals
More and more demands are placed on state-of-the-art, efficient railway systems. That track components such as turnouts can analyze themselves and report when maintenance is required in advance, is a technical aspect. On the other hand, they collect data on traffic volume, the state of the rolling stock, and environmental conditions. Information that can be provided to the railway operators. This data needs to be collected, analyzed, and interpreted.
That requires specialists in occupations that previously had nothing to do with turnout production. Heinz Schatz points out: “We are not digitizing for the sake of digitization. Today, voestalpine Weichensysteme GmbH analyzes all processes, but also products, to determine the potential of using digital, state-of-the-art methods in a meaningful, efficiency-enhancing, supporting manner.
Recruiting digital savvy personnel is standard
From locksmiths to data analysis—the bandwidth of skilled employees needed in our companies is wide. That is reflected in our search for new employees.
"The job profiles in the companies in the turnout technology area have changed significantly. Certain key skills, such as proficiency with digital applications, have moved up several steps on the priority list."
Christopher Eberl