What competencies are needed in the production industry? The case of the Podlaskie Region

Abstract

The article focuses on indicating a set of competencies required for production branches based on the data regarding the Podlaskie labour market. The data was collected using quantitative surveys (in the form of questionnaires). Then, the Authors used network analysis to visualise the collected data and indicate the most frequently indicated set of competencies. Based on the opinion of respondents, the most popular competencies were professional knowledge and technical skills. These two competencies were also the most popular combination. Communication, self-reliance, thoroughness/reliability, sharing knowledge and experience, and teamwork/collaboration also proved to be important. The entire set of the competencies is strongly linked, with professional knowledge and technical skills forming the foundation. Knowledge of foreign languages has also been identified as significant as well as decision making, which was, however, less frequently connected with the above. Despite the dominance of the two competencies attributed to the professional group, this group of competencies was the least numerous. Based on the example of the Podlaskie Region, the study informs about the set of competencies sought by manufacturing companies. Also, the most important competencies typical for individual branches are noted. This collection of competencies can serve as a basis for further theoretical considerations in the field of competency identification aimed at the production industry. In some cases, competencies indicated for different industries coincide, while in others they are divergent. The set of competencies indicated by the respondents informs job seekers in the area of production as well as institutions such as Voivodship Labour Office in Bialystok, whose task, among others, is to appropriately orientate the development of future employees.

An Investigation of Industry 4.0 Skills Requirements

“…Gudanowska, Alonso, and Törmänen [22] report that, although the competencies required in different fields might differ, there are similarities in the competencies required in different industries. They add that soft skills will be as important as technical skills in the engineer of the future [22].…”

“…Gudanowska, Alonso, and Törmänen [22] report that, although the competencies required in different fields might differ, there are similarities in the competencies required in different industries. They add that soft skills will be as important as technical skills in the engineer of the future [22]. The future engineer's interaction with intelligent machines will form a symbiotic partnership that requires a firm base of soft skills, such as emotional intelligence, critical thinking, innovation, communication, collaboration, leadership, and teamwork [23].…”

“…Gudanowska et al [22] argue that skills in the manufacturing industry can be developed in the work environment, whereas formal education cannot achieve this. Although not specifying the mode of learning, Prifti [27] points out that competencies can be taught.…”

Investigating the Links of Interpersonal Trust in Telecommunications Companies

“…A number of definitions of competence exist in the literature. The first group refers to employee's visible performance or behavior [59][60][61][62]. The second group describes competency as a standard or quality indicator [63].…”

Towards Smarter Specialisation – Key Drivers of Nanotechnology Development in Podlaskie Region

“…opinion, accompanied by an in-depth study of the social and intellectual capital of an area (Gudanowska, Alonso, & Törmänen, 2018). Creating conducive environment for a synergy between technological and human aspects of development might result in an increased pace of economic and social development of a region.…”