Switzerland, Geneva, 6 May 2020 – The COVID-19 outbreak is disrupting manufacturing and global value chains, with consequences for businesses, consumers and the global economy. Under this context, through the World Economic Forum’s COVID Action Platform, leading manufacturing organizations engaged with the Forum’s Advanced Manufacturing and Production community, came together to launch MFG.works, an online learning and career development portal from manufacturers to manufacturers.
The first portal of its kind, MFG.works lets manufacturing professionals connect with each other, learn from each other, and advance their careers. The portal is open, accessible free, and is backed by some of the world’s leading manufacturing organizations, including Foxconn, Schneider Electric, Stanley Black and Decker, HP Inc, Dassault Systèmes, Micron Technology and Tulip.
“We are delighted to see that manufacturing companies are stepping up and making their training content globally available,” said Francisco Betti, the Head of Advanced Manufacturing and Production at the World Economic Forum. “We see it as a very powerful initiative to help address the so-called skills gap in manufacturing, especially at a time in which the manufacturing workforce is navigating some unprecedented challenges related to COVID-19.”
As part of the launch, companies like Dassault Systèmes, Foxconn, Schneider Electric and Tulip are making their online learning resources available on the portal so manufacturers can use the downtime from the crisis to gain valuable skills. A wide range of topics are offered in online modules, including IIoT in production; how to design for additive manufacturing; the basics of Industrial AI and how to create manufacturing apps to digitize production. In addition to the free educational content, MFG.works is also working on a job board, so members can get access to manufacturing opportunities around the world and companies can find top talent.
Quotes from founding members of MFG.works:
“Companies that provide their workers with the resources to gain new skills will be better prepared for the recovery as well as for facing the next challenge” said Jay lee, Vice Chairman and Board Member of Foxconn Technology Group.
“The goal of this community is to enable more collaboration and innovation in our industry,” said Natan Linder, CEO of Tulip, one of the initiative’s sponsors. “We never expected to launch during a global pandemic, but this crisis has actually highlighted the need for an online place where manufacturers can come together to learn from each other, share best practices, and push the industry forward.”
MFG.works provides a community for manufacturers to connect and collaborate through forums ranging from Lean Manufacturing, to fighting the covid-19 pandemic. “In the end, it’s an open platform, so the community of users will be in charge of its future,” said Saul Lustgarten, of Tulip, who is leading the initiative. “We trust the power of the internet to connect people, catalyze innovation and change, and are excited to see the impact MFG.works will have in our industry.”
“If we are to leverage the power of the entire industrial ecosystem to drive industrial digital transformation forward, then we need to be open and transparent across organisations for this common business challenge, collectively sharing critical knowledge and skills. A marketplace with information in eLearning and video formats that is accessible to anyone who wants to increase their skills in advanced manufacturing will benefit our whole sector.” Deirdre Murphy SVP HR Industrial Automation, Schneider Electric.
“Dassault Systèmes is convinced that the future is about people, that the only progress is human. We need to empower the workforce of the future with the right knowledge and know-how to imagine sustainable innovations. Supporting the manufacturing workforce is key to the industry’s transformation, which is even more revealed by the COVID-19 crisis. We are glad to collaborate with other stakeholders of the World Economic Forum and contribute to this Mfg.works initiative by offering learning experiences on business innovation, the digital factory and additive manufacturing”. Valérie Ferret, Vice President 3DEXPERIENCE Edu, Dassault Systèmes.
