Plugging AI skills gaps critical for future of shipbuilding industry

Addressing anticipated skills shortages in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and automation is essential to the future of the shipbuilding sector, according to a new report by the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS), operated by the University of Strathclyde and based at the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) in Renfrewshire.

Developed with industry partners and Innovate UK’s Workforce Foresighting Hub, the report highlights the need to equip the workforce with the skills required as the industry evolves and adopts new technology. It looks ahead to the next five years and beyond, emphasising the importance of adapting both traditional roles and emerging ones.

While automation and robotics are already used in a variety of tasks by shipbuilding companies, the team behind the foresighting work found that demand for technology to assist with welding, joining, and inspections in confined or hazardous spaces is only likely to increase.

For example, the roles of some welders will evolve to combine traditional skills with expertise in new technologies and materials, as advanced technologies such as robotics and additive manufacturing are integrated into operations. This transition underscores the need for a collaborative approach between industry and training providers to design programmes that prepare workers for these hybrid roles.

To ensure that employees are ready to work with technology of this kind, updated training modules, short courses and continuous professional development (CPD) programmes are among the recommended actions to bridge gaps in current knowledge and skills within the workforce.

Leveraging its industry experience and expert knowledge and as part of the High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult, NMIS collaborated with Innovate UK’s Workforce Foresighting Hub to complete the foresighting cycle, which culminated in the report. The cycle employs a combination of workshops, surveys, and advanced AI tools to capture and analyse data.

The report includes several future occupational profiles or job descriptions – from quality and compliance roles to engineering and systems design – which can be used by manufacturers to evaluate any gaps between existing roles and future requirements, allowing training and apprenticeship standards to be adjusted accordingly.

Key suggestions also include a need for enhanced technical and safety training, as well as increased collaboration between the industry and education providers. Over the longer term, insights from the report could also help to shape requirements for new qualifications and standards.

The insights are also applicable to other sectors involving large structures, such as offshore wind, oil and gas, construction, and transport.

Greg Cranstoun, industry and skills engagement lead at NMIS, said: “Scotland has a deep-rooted history of shipbuilding, particularly on the Clyde, next to where NMIS is based, but the challenges of a skills shortage apply to the whole of the UK.

The sector has been recognised for its strategic economic importance, but to ensure shipbuilding and its supply chains can thrive, we need to ensure we have the right people with the right skills lined up to meet demand.

“Technology is only going to become more prevalent as the adoption of AI and robotics increases in all sectors, and there are significant gains that could come from using advanced equipment to improve both health and safety and productivity in shipyards.

Manufacturers need to think ahead to the types of roles this will create, and how to equip the current workforce and future employees with the skills to take this forward.”

The Scottish shipbuilding sector today employs over 7,000 people and provides more than 1,000 apprenticeships. Across the UK, the sector contributed an estimated £3.1bn to the economy in 2022 and supported more than 44,600 jobs.

The UK’s National Shipbuilding Strategy, published in 2022, outlined a series of targets to help increase the productivity of shipyards, boost international competitiveness, increase technological and environmental innovation, and strengthen local manufacturers in the supply chain. The aims include ensuring UK civil shipyards achieve productivity levels equivalent to Northern European shipyards by 2030, as well as cutting the skills gap by 35% by 2027 and halving it by 2050.

In addition to the focus on shipbuilding, findings from the report may be relevant to employers in other sectors where similar technology can be applied, including offshore wind, oil and gas, construction, and transport.

Debbie Johnson, Head of Innovation Talent & Skills at Innovate UK, said: “The speed at which we can leverage innovative technologies impacts the global competitiveness of UK organisations. Often, new technologies are available, but a lack of skilled workforce prevents their full utilisation.

By accelerating the adoption of new technologies by having the right skills at the right time, UK businesses can better position themselves as market leaders. Enabled by the Innovate UK Catapult Network, our Workforce Foresighting Hub enables the adoption of a long-term perspective and provides the ability to respond more swiftly to emerging skill demands, to better capitalise on new technologies and lead future industries.”

To view the full report, visit: https://iuk-business-connect.org.uk/perspectives/future-proofing-the-uk-shipbuilding-sector/