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If you're a manufacturer, then you're probably very aware of the shortage of workers that the industry is facing. One facet of this problem is robots are being integrated into manufacturing processes at such a rate that there simply aren't enough people out there with the skills needed to work with the machines. 

However, you might be closer to filling that skill gap than you think. Today, we're going to talk about why you should consider upskilling your maintenance workers to robotics workers. 

Maintenance Workers Already Have Many of the Required Skills

In robotics, hands-on experience is just as, if not more, important than academic education. The ability to understand mechanical things and how they work is paramount to working with robots.  

Your maintenance workers, many of whom are working hands-on with machines as part of their current jobs, are already ahead of the game in terms of necessary robotics skills.  With some additional training, they could easily become robotics technicians with a little bit of training.

Some skills your maintenance workers already have that are transferable to robotics include:

Mechanical skills: As we said, an understanding of how machines work is crucial to working with robots. Maintenance workers are already well-versed in this area.

Troubleshooting skills: When a machine breaks down, it's the maintenance worker's job to figure out what went wrong and how to fix it. This same skill set can be applied to troubleshooting robot issues.

Analytical skills: In order to diagnose problems with machines, maintenance workers need to be able to think analytically and understand how all the parts of the machine work together. This same skill set is needed in robotics.

So, as you can see, maintenance workers already have many of the skills needed to be successful in a robotics technician role. With some additional training, they could quickly become experts in the field and on the manufacturing floor. 

Upskilling Your Maintenance Workers is More Cost-Effective Than Hiring New Employees

The cost of hiring and training new employees can be prohibitive for some manufacturers. However, upskilling your existing maintenance workers to work with robots is a much more cost-effective solution. 

Not only will it cost you less to train them, but you'll also already have a good understanding of their work ethic and skills. This can help to reduce the risk of hiring someone who turns out to be a poor fit for the job. 

It Can Help to Improve Morale and Job Satisfaction

Maintenance workers are often undervalued and seen as being less skilled than other employees in many professional settings. However, upskilling them to work with robots can help to change that perception. 
 

By giving your maintenance workers the opportunity to learn new skills and advance their careers, you can improve morale and job satisfaction among this important group of employees. In turn, this can help to improve retention rates and reduce turnover while providing you with a newly skilled robotics workforce.  

Upskilling allows you to show that you're invested in your people, and that's something that employees will always value. 

How to Find Robotics Training for Your Maintenance Workers

So maybe this all sounds great to you, but you're not sure where to start. Luckily for you, you're already in the right place! 

On the RoboticsCareer.org homepage, we have a search tool that combs through thousands of robotics programs from all around the U.S. to find the best fit for you. For instance, you can use roboticscareer.org to locate robotics training programs near your manufacturing facilities, making it easier for you and your employees to get started with upskilling. With this tool at your disposal, you're ready to start looking for the best program to upskill your maintenance workers into robotics technicians.