The Demise of Skilled Manufacture.

In recent years the number of skilled craftsmen has decreased to dangerously low levels. The reasoning behind this is fairly obvious: mass manufacture, huge corporations fixated on maximum profit and modern technologies eliminating the need for these workers. However, a reason that is often overlooked is the lack of skilled workers that now exist. This may have been initiated by lack of demand for thier skills, but increasingly in industry the reverse exists. The demand is there, but the skills are not. This is turning many companies even more towards automated, low skilled manufacturing methods.

How can we solve this?

Craig Whittet (Programme Leader, Product Design Engineering, Glasgow School of Art) suggests that the way we treat and pay our apprentices may be the way to address this. For example, in the UK, the current minimum wage for a 19 year old apprentice is only £2.68. Compare this to £3.72 for a non apprentice. This can, and does leave apprentices feeling worthless, and their qualified seniors feeling devalued. Why would a 16 year old persue a career in skilled manufacture when they could simply work in a call centre for much more pay and minimal effort? If we raised the minimum wage for skilled manufacture trainees we may just spark new enthusiasm amongst the younger members of society to persue a career in skilled manufacture. This enthusiasm would hopefully spread into the potential employers who may see the value in the skills available greater than the cost savings of an automated factory.

Also discussed was the brand image of a company and its potential to thrive from skilled manufacture. This may be all we need to safe the skills of a craftsman. An interesting example is the company Brooks saddles. They are a company that relies on skilled craftsmen to manufacture their product. It takes 3 days to make 1 saddle! Unfortunately, poor marketing almost ended this company a few years ago. But then came Selle Royal, an Italian company who could see the potential of exploting the traditional image of these skilled craftsmen. This transformed the company so that they are now seen as one of the top quality saddle manufacturers in the world. But, more importantly than that is the fact that this boost made the workers feel valued again.

Take a look at this, the story of Brooks saddles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9w-y24Waz4