Before the COVID-19 pandemic, how often did you think about where the products you buy were manufactured? For certain, some people have always been interested in buying products made in America. However, most people have historically given little thought to where things are made or how they find their way to the United States.

Of course, all that changed during the pandemic. As store shelves emptied and new automobiles got stockpiled while waiting for electronic components, everyone around the world became painfully aware of the intricacies of the supply chain and how truly global the economy had become.

One of the many outcomes of the pandemic was a renewed focus on making the American supply chain more efficient and resilient. Not surprisingly, many links in the supply chain turned to advanced automation technologies to address issues that had come to light during the pandemic.

In terms of automating warehouses, in particular, smart robots quickly became a go-to solution for many organizations. Over the past couple of years, more and more human workers have learned to work alongside robotic counterparts. Experts believe this trend is likely to continue. In fact, some believe that future supply chain managers may oversee more smart robots than human beings.

In a recent Material Handling & Logistics article, the author cites a recent study by Gartner, Inc. that predicts that “[e]ighty percent of humans will engage with smart robots on a daily basis, and one in 20 supply chain managers will manage robots, rather than humans, by 2030.”

The article points out that “[o]rganizations are placing greater emphasis on enhancing the capabilities of their existing workforce by supplementing with robotics due to factors like labor scarcity and rising costs,” making smart robots “an important investment area.”

The growth in implementation of smart robots reveals that many, if not most, companies are indeed choosing to invest in these new technologies. At the same time, though, these organizations also need to be investing in their human assets, as many chief supply chain officers “acknowledge their organization lacks internal robotics expertise to maximally leverage these innovative technologies.”

Supply chain experts know that, “as fleets grow and companies embrace varied robotics use cases, establishing a management structure to oversee robotics operations becomes essential.” Finding those managers with the knowledge and hands-on skills to effectively manage these advanced automation technologies will become the new challenge.

Companies will likely need to hire new skilled workers or upskill current workers to make the most of increasing automation technologies. How can you be sure a worker has the advanced automation skills needed to excel in the workplace of the future? Many companies look for workers with industry-standard certifications that prove they have the hands-on skills employers need.

The Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA) has been hard at work collaborating with industry leaders to develop a wide variety of industry-standard certifications that will help employers find workers who possess the advanced connected-systems skills they need to take their businesses to the next level.

For example, SACA’s Certified Industry 4.0 Robotics Specialist certification confirms that certified individuals can succeed as a robotics technician in modern production environments that use Industry 4.0 technologies. This certification verifies that individuals can install, program, test, interface, and maintain industrial robot systems and workcells. SACA offers a wide variety of other industry-standard certifications focused on advanced automation technologies and related skills. Be sure to check out SACA and all it has to offer!