Operator of the Future

Operator of the Future

Those of you over 40 years of age likely remember a time when auto mechanics rebuilt carburetors and assembly line workers bolted parts to a frame. Automation has changed both of those jobs, where the auto mechanic now must be computer savvy, and the assembly line worker needs to know robotics. As automation progresses in the process industries, how will the role of the operator change? Many of the tasks an operator does now can be automated as shown in the table below. As the cost of automation decreases, what will the operator be doing in the future?

Above: Operator of the future table

This is a question that the Center for Operator Performance is examining. A current study is looking at how we train the new generation of operators, those that grew up with YouTube and the internet. A future effort will look at defining the changing role of the operator with automation increases.

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