EDITORIAL
The website of the highly successful—and so widely criticized—consulting firm McKinsey & Co. says that the world is now seeing a great leap forward in industrialization called the Fourth Industrial Revolution or 4IR, also known as Industry 4.0.
They said steam propelled the original Industrial Revolution in Europe and the Americas; electricity powered the second; preliminary automation and machinery engineered the third; and cyberphysical systems or intelligent computers are shaping the 4th Industrial Revolution.
McKinsey & Co. continues:
“Before 2014, the Google search term ‘Industry 4.0’ was practically nonexistent, but by 2019, 68 percent of respondents to a McKinsey global survey regarded Industry 4.0 as a top strategic priority. Seventy percent said their companies were already piloting or deploying new technology.
“4IR builds on the inventions of the Third Industrial Revolution—-or digital revolution—which unfolded from the 1950s and to the early 2000s and brought us computers, other kinds of electronics, the Internet, and much more. Industry 4.0 brings these inventions beyond the previous realm of possibility with four foundational types of disruptive technologies that can be applied all along the value chain.”
We mention this because last week, the German Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Inc. ( GCCPI) noted the need for cohesive policies in key industries and the labor sector to overcome the critical challenges like inadequate infrastructure and skills gaps to harness Industry 4.0.
German businesses in the Philippines expressed hope the launch of an updated roadmap on artificial intelligence (AI) will usher the adoption and transition of AI and Industry 4.0 in the country.
“Industry 4.0 will transform both the industry and workforce. For the Philippines, it presents opportunities for automation, digital transformation, and upskilling the workforce in sectors affected by the transition: agriculture, electronic commerce, education, electronics manufacturing, information technology-business processing and transportation. However, critical challenges like inadequate infrastructure and skills gaps demand immediate attention,” the GCCPI said.
Marie Antoniette Mariano, president of GCCPI, said the group lauds the launch of the Philippine National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Roadmap 2.0 and the Center for AI Research as these projects align with the expectations of the German-Philippine business community as reflected in our White Paper on Industry 4.0.
The White Paper said Germany, as a leader in Industry 4.0 and strong partner of the Philippines, offers valuable opportunities for collaboration and assistance to the Philippines through investments in key sectors, knowledge sharing via its Dual Vocational Training System, AI expertise, and partnerships for workforce development.
“Embracing Industry 4.0. with a decisive action allows the Philippines a chance to excel in a highly competitive global market,” GCCPI said.
We believe that the economic team of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will find valuable insights from the White Paper of the German associated because it offers specific recommendations which can help achieve swift adoption of Industry 4.0
The group enumerated the following:
Establish a National Semiconductor and Electronics Council; develop competency-based training regulations aligned with international standards;align Higher Education Courses with Industry 4.0 needs; promote access to upskilling and reskilling through apprenticeship program reforms;
intensify and upgrade high-quality technical and vocational education training (TVET) programs; incentivize research and development initiatives to accelerate the expansion of the country’s research ecosystem; strengthen public-private partnerships on Industry 4.0 related programs; enhance infrastructure and logistics to support “digitization” and “digitalization” ; develop local tech expos and trade fairs to promote new technologies and; initiate cross-industry ecosystems for accelerated skills development.
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