Paul J. Noble

According to McKinsey’s 2023 Global Manufacturing Pulse, while over 90 percent of industrial companies cite digital as “critical” to their future competitiveness, fewer than 30 percent say their workforce is prepared to support these efforts. Deloitte’s 2024 Industry 4.0 Readiness Study echoes the concern, showing that skills gaps, especially in data analytics, AI operations, and cross-functional supply chain fluency, are the top cited barrier to transformation. This skills shortage is particularly acute in areas like MRO inventory optimization, predictive stocking, and AI-based procurement, domains that require a unique blend of operational know-how, data interpretation, and change management.