The impact of the Industry 4.0 on human resources : An analysis of eight manufacturing companies in Treviso area

Abstract

In recent years, the Italian manufacturing sector has started to adopt new technologies entailed in the national industrial policy plan called “Industry 4.0”, that has opened many new opportunities, also for small companies to invest in new digital tools. Initially, new Industry 4.0 technologies such as 3D printers, Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, Big Data, the Internet of Things and other additive manufacturing tools, were used in order to improve the production processes of manufacturing companies, they enhanced productivity, flexibility, and the quality of the products. But then they were also implemented in other supportive activities by companies in the manufacturing sector. The thesis is focused on the Veneto region manufacturing sector and its companies, which are mainly small and medium enterprises, that for some years have invested considerably in new technologies as a result of the financial and tax incentives included in the “Calenda Plan”, a program established in 2016 to incentivize the investments in new technologies. Investments in Industry 4.0 tools also have some challenging effects on the human resources, in particular on the small and medium sized firms. In many cases, employees do not accept the implementation of new technologies which have an impact on their job tasks but, on the other hand, companies need workers with updated skills in order to exploit new technological tools. The challenge facing by companies is to cover the skills gap created by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, in order to hire and train right people to manage new digital tools that require specific competencies, and to avoid unemployment caused by the substitution of human resources by machines. Therefore, they should listen and involve their employees in this change. The research will focus on eight specific case studies of manufacturing companies in the Treviso province, specialized in the fashion and furniture industries, both of which are significant manufacturing sectors for the province economy. Companies have invested in Industry 4.0 technologies which have had important effects on the management of human resources that required new and specific skills and competencies.