Author: Tebogo Modise, Industrial Engineer, 13/02/2017

BACKGROUND1

DISCUSSION2

Digital Disruption: Is it time for a modern era Industrial Engineer?

• This forces Industrial Engineers to research better ways that will enable theorganisation become flexible, agile and dynamic in responding to theircustomer demands.

• This means a modern Industrial Engineer should also be flexible, agile anddynamic in support of the organisation. Real Time Work Study data shouldalways be available and ready for use when required by management

• As discussed above, Digital Transformation journey will enable this butfirstly, the processes will need to be improved by the Industrial Engineersand automated by Information Technology experts, secondly there areBusiness Process Management (BPM) softwares that are available but willneed to be customized to your organisation.

• The failure of IT projects to directly improve businesses operations/serviceshas always been attributed to the gap that exists between IT and business.In the new era, this gap must be closed by the modern era Ind. Engineer.

The ever increasing digital disruption continues to put pressure on organisations. As digital technologies continue to disrupt and transform the world economy, manybusiness leaders are struggling to formulate a digital strategy to shift organisational structures, and eliminate the barriers that are keeping them from maximising thebenefits of the evolving digital technologies. According to Pierre Nanterme, CEO of Accenture, Digital is the main reason for over half of the companies disappearingfrom the Fortune 500 companies list since year 2000.The utilisation of new digital technologies will ensure that organisations are flexible, agile and dynamic toachieve customer demand. For this to be achieved, organisations will need to embark on a Digital Transformation journey to improve the way it is currently doingbusiness by automating their processes. This means, Industrial Engineering skills will be in high demand as most of the processes will need to be improved an/orreengineered before they can be automated. Therefore, a modern era Industrial Engineer will form a very crucial part of the Digital Transformation journey in anytype of organisation.

But, what exactly is Industrial Engineering? What are the skills they need to improve in order to become this modern era Industrial Engineer? What do they need to do in order to survive in a new flexible, agile and dynamic organisation? These questions takes us to the discussion below…

Industrial Engineers are generally responsible for the analysis, design, planning,implementation, operation, management and maintenance of integrated andcomplex processes and systems.

Digital Transformation will affect the efficiency and relevance of traditionalIndustrial Engineer. To qualify this statement, we take a look at one sub-component of Industrial Engineering below:

Engineering Work Study:• Commonly used tool called Time and Motion Studies is used to physically

observe the process and measure the as-is process’ turnaround time. Thedata would be analysed, solutions would be generated and implemented toreduce the time taken and the turnaround time calculated and set as astandard for the new (to-be) improved process. This is normally used tocalculate labour requirements and to set productivity targets in response tocustomer demands.

• This normally takes a considerable amount of time (days) and in the newmodern era organisations, decisions need to be made quicker and faster.Therefore this traditional work measurement tool will be considered to behighly inefficient and ineffective as it will be seen as being reactive thanbeing flexible, agile and proactive in responding to customer demand.

• A modern era Industrial Engineer will need to incorporate IT technology in the development of the processes and will also need to learn to develop documents (BRS, SOPs) in a language that IT understand.

• There has never been the right time than now for IE’s to start improving their Digital, Information and Technology knowledge and awareness.

• Obtaining a Diploma in Business Analysis and training in BPM softwares will be important steps in their own Digital Transformation journey.

WAY FORWARD3