Industry 4.0 skills for Production Line Technicians: A Case Study of the Intelligent Electronics Industry

Abstract

This study aimed to explore and understand the skills required for technicians working in production lines within the context of Industry 4.0. A qualitative research methodology grounded in behavioral science was employed. The research was conducted at an electronics assembly factory, involving 17 purposively selected key informants, including production technicians, supervisors, training staff, and engineers. Two primary research instruments were used: 1) academic databases and related literature, and 2) a set of focus group discussion questions. Data were analyzed using content analysis. The findings revealed that essential skills for technicians in Industry 4.0 involved a combination of technical skills and social-behavioral skills. These integrated skills respond to the demands of a data-driven and automated industrial environment. Technicians were expected to be proficient in three core areas: Master the Machine, Master the Team, and Master Yourself. These were further categorized into three key competencies:1) Communication for collaboration, emphasizing the need for effective, adaptive communication to ensure mutual understanding among stakeholders; 2) Process-based decision-making, which involved analytical thinking and data-informed problem-solving grounded in standard procedures; and 3) Self-management, which included emotional regulation, time management, and continuous self-improvement to meet the dynamic challenges of Industry 4.0. The study's findings provided a practical framework for industrial organizations to design training programs aimed at developing these critical skills among production technicians, thereby enhancing their capability to work effectively in technologically advanced manufacturing environments.