The Introduction to the event was......
"The challenges faced by manufacturing research, education and skills requirements, and our knowledge capability base in 2075 will be influenced and informed by organic and disruptive technologies and systems, new materials, changes in our life styles and values, and global political and societal developments. To be suitably prepared, we need to imagine the future to plan the present. A new global forum to discuss very long term manufacturing challenges (i.e. Manufacturing Futures) for the UK and other countries is essential for prosperity and sustainability. Our collective views on Manufacturing Futures will shape our research direction in the short and long term, better understand our user requirements and drivers, ensure tailored and timely practical solutions, and support innovation in new education models".
The Web address for details from this event is: https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/events/events-2016/manufacturing-2075
The pressures upon society resulting from ever decreasing numbers of manufacturing (and other blue collar) jobs due to the twin drivers of Globalisation (the constant drfit to low cost economies) and the application of advanced levels of engineering technology are having a profound affect upon our working lives. The emergence of these technologies are going way beyond the desirable and pleasurable 'gadget' as often promoted by the advocates of the application of the 'Internet of Things'. Quite simply one is now observing greater levels of Artificial Intelligence, Autonomy, and Self Healing. This 'Industrial Revoloution' is very significant and I suggest that what is being observed is an initiator of change that is so profound that it will compare with the rise of factory production and usage of steam. That is to say that we are witnessing the start of a paradigm shift in the structure of society and the very way that we will live our lives, the magnitude of which has not yet been defined.
The hypothesis presented here is that as manufacturing becomes evermore efficient and autonomous in nature, not only in the actual generation of manufactured goods, but also in service provision and associated supply chain systems, the structure of our society and norms by which we live our lives will change radically. It is not a flight into fantasy to propose a rapid approaching world of two communities. Rather like the Orwellian vision of the world defined in his book 'The Time Machine' there evolves a minor group of people who are the Technocrats (Highly Qualified and Skilled) who are in the minority, and then the rest of society (whom rely upon the services provided by the 'machines'). A dangerous vision perhaps. In writing this post I go on to describe the brave new world as society evolves and travels over the technical horizon.
So what is the point of this post. Quite simply, the Project Management Body of Knowledge is well established and can easily be applied to manage projects within definition, scope and budget. As I write I muse...can it really!! Recent history is full of examples of project failures and cost overruns against approved budgets. Perhaps at best the PMBOK is all but a blunt suite of tools which are better to have than not. In writing the above I pose the following:
- How do we as engineers project manage social impact?
- Should we?
- How do we develop cost models for the new world?
- Should we?
- How can we have greater impact upon those who inform policy?
We are seeing SMART Cities, Integrated Transport Systems, Intelligent Products, Greater Autonomy, the need for less people directly employed in production.
- What do we do when the 2 day working week emerges?
- How does the minority fund the majority?
- How will the majority who are unemployed react?
- (Social Unrest - alienation etc)
My attending that event was very enlightening and raised far more questions than answers. It reinforced the thinking about the conections between the world of science, engineering and social impact. The transition through this evolutional journey is driven by projects so it is relevant to post these thoughts here. The IET should start to seriously consider these new frontiers and it would be advantageous (if not enlightening to all) if the reader stoped and considered the message in this post and perhaps would like to add their thoughts.
