Strengthening the Industry 4.0 Workforce through Virtual Reality Training Modules

由于制造业有助于提高美国的出口潜力，提高生活水平和增加就业机会，因此解决对熟练技术劳动力的需求对于支持美国未来的经济繁荣至关重要。此外，由于乘数效应，制造业也影响到整个经济，制造业每100个就业机会就为其他部门创造250个就业机会。2018年，德勤和制造业研究所进行了一项关于制造业技能差距的研究，发现人工智能，先进的机器人技术，自动化，分析和物联网正在改变工作世界（工业4.0），并且可能创造更多的就业机会。自2017年年中以来，制造业的职位空缺以两位数的速度增长，空缺职位与可用的技能人才库之间的差距越来越大。为了帮助弥合这一差距，先进制造技术教育合作项目（https：//amtecworkforce.org/）将创建一个基于zSpace平台的虚拟现实（VR）应用程序，学生可以使用该应用程序在行业模拟器上解决十个场景的问题。这些方案将被整合到一个学分的中学后顶点课程，为制造业学生开发和设计与工业和教育主题专家的投入。 工业界和先进技术教育代表之间的这种伙伴关系将确保该项目加强先进制造业劳动力的能力和全球竞争力。VR应用程序和课程将在全国各地的先进制造技术教育合作伙伴网站以及目前使用zSpace虚拟现实平台的学生和教师进行现场测试。 此外，还将开发一个探索性课程，让K-12学生参与类似游戏的模拟活动，以招募年轻人参加先进的制造技术培训。若干目标将指导该项目的执行。首先是通过现场测试新创建的虚拟现实“游戏式”应用程序，让中学生参与工业4.0先进制造概念。其次是培训准备成为制造技术人员的大专学生，使他们对工业4.0技术有基本的了解，并有能力在工作场所成功应用这些技术。第三，通过提供全面的专业发展，提高中学和中学后教师在工业4.0概念和虚拟现实技术使用方面的能力。预计将对外地作出三项主要贡献。一是扩大学术界、工业界和其他方面之间的合作伙伴关系，以开发与不断增长的工业4.0基础设施相一致的技术人员培训。二是改善中学和大专学生在新兴工业4.0技术和虚拟现实应用方面的学习。第三，在大流行病或类似事件期间，制造技术人员培训的中断减少，从而产生了远程学习的需求。该项目由先进技术教育计划资助，该计划侧重于推动国家经济的先进技术领域的技术人员教育。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

As manufacturing contributes to higher export potential, better standards of living, and more jobs in America, addressing the need for a skilled technical workforce is crucial to support the future economic prosperity of the country. Moreover, as a result of the multiplier effect, manufacturing also impacts the broad economy, with every 100 jobs in a manufacturing facility creating 250 jobs in other sectors. In 2018, Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute conducted a study on the manufacturing skills gap that revealed artificial intelligence, advanced robotics, automation, analytics, and the Internet of Things are emerging to transform the world of work (Industry 4.0) and are likely to create even more jobs than they replace. Since mid-2017, job openings in manufacturing have grown at double-digit rates, with a growing gap between open jobs and an available skilled talent pool to fill them. To help bridge this gap, this project of the Advanced Manufacturing Technical Education Collaborative (https://amtecworkforce.org/) will create a virtual reality (VR) application built on the zSpace platform that students can use to troubleshoot ten scenarios on an industry simulator. These scenarios will be integrated into a credit-bearing post-secondary capstone course for manufacturing students developed and designed with input from industry and education subject matter experts. This partnership between representatives of industry and advanced technological education will ensure that the project strengthens the competency and global competitiveness of the advanced manufacturing workforce. The VR application and curricula will be field tested at targeted Advanced Manufacturing Technical Education Collaborative partner sites across the country, as well as with students and instructors currently using zSpace’s virtual reality platform. In addition, an exploratory curriculum will be developed to engage K-12 students in gaming-like simulations to recruit youth into advanced manufacturing technical training. Several objectives will guide the execution of the project. First is to engage secondary students in Industry 4.0 advanced manufacturing concepts through field-testing a newly created virtual reality “game-like” application. Second is to train post-secondary students preparing to be manufacturing technicians to enter the workforce with a basic understanding of Industry 4.0 technologies and the ability to apply them successfully in the workplace setting. Third is to increase the aptitude of secondary and post-secondary faculty in Industry 4.0 concepts and the use of virtual reality technology by providing comprehensive professional development. Three primary contributions to the field are anticipated. One is an expanded set of partnerships between academia, industry, and others to develop technician training that aligns with the growing Industry 4.0 infrastructure. Two is the improvement of secondary and post-secondary student learning in emerging Industry 4.0 technologies and virtual reality applications. Third is the lessening of disruptions of manufacturing technician training during a pandemic or similar event that creates a need for remote learning. This project is funded by the Advanced Technological Education program that focuses on the education of technicians for the advanced-technology fields that drive the nation's economy. As a result, the project has the potential to contribute to improving the national STEM workforce.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.