Digital skilled trades: Federal President Steinmeier is impressed

The skilled trades are resolutely facing up to digitalisation. On his visit to Bayreuth, the Federal President appeared impressed by the ingenuity of the brewers, orthopaedic technicians, carpenters and vehicle mechanics.

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Büdenbender were guests of the Upper Franconica Chamber of Crafts and Trades. In Bayreuth they found out more about the centre of excellence for the digital skilled trades.

Digital centres of excellence support skilled trade businesses in exploiting the opportunities of digitalisation. One of the most important and best institutions of this type is located in Upper Franconia. During the Steinmeier's workshop visit, the Chamber of Crafts and Trades showed how they incorporate digital technologies within training and continuing education and how they train the instructors. Thomas Zimmer, President of the Chamber of Crafts and Trades for Upper Franconia commented: "Knowledge is acquired in the centre of excellence as a result of the close integration of the centre of excellence with vocational training and continuing education. We directly and quickly transfer this knowledge into company-based practice."

Project manager, Joanna Erlbacher, used two examples to explain to the Federal President how projects of this type are implemented together with the companies. She has introduced a digital warehouse logistics system in a microbrewery typical of those found in Upper Franconia. Together with the orthopaedic technology company reha team Bayreuth, she has integrated additive manufacturing (3D printing) within the skilled craft production process of insoles. "The brewery is using the inventory management system primarily to compensate for the lack of skilled workers," explained Erlbacher in an engaging and compelling presentation.

The project manager explained that, as a result of the integration of additive manufacturing, the orthopaedic technology company had remained competitive. Erlbacher and Gernot Gebauer, Managing Director of reha team Bayreuth, also pointed to findings which the companies and the Chamber of Crafts and Trades had made when integrating the new digital technologies. "With all changes, it is very important to respond quickly to the concerns and requirements of employees - specifically of experienced employees - at an early stage."

Young trainees of course find it easy to use digital technologies. However, the rapid updating of the training regulations and curriculum specifications for vocational education and training is seen as a challenge for policy making and business. The Chamber of Crafts and Trades for Upper Franconia wants to use the example of vehicle mechatronics technician training as a model of how rapid integration of new content within specifications can be achieved. “We want to use it to show how the necessary updating is better able to keep pace with the rate of technological progress,” explained Thomas Koller, General Manager of the Upper Franconia Chamber of Crafts and Trades.

However, it is not only trainees, but also students following master craftsmen/women courses who must be made familiar with digital processes. This can only be achieved if training instructors have also learned to use the new technologies. How this can be achieved was demonstrated in the wood department. For example, students following the carpentry master craftsman course in the Bayreuth training workshop learn how to construct stairs in the traditional way using a quarter turn they have produced themselves and with the aid of an 1:1 scale model and a template produced using the 3D printing process.

The Federal President was delighted to see "the type of equipment available in this centre". He added, full of praise for what he had seen, that the skilled trades are preparing themselves for the change in the world of work and "are not being left behind" he Federal President described his visit to Upper Franconia as a "huge pleasure". Chamber President Thomas Zimmer thanked Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender for their visit to Bayreuth. Zimmer, who is also Vice-President of the Central Association of Skilled Crafts (ZDH), emphasised the clear commitment of the Federal President and his wife to vocational education and training: "Their support gives us real momentum."

The fathers of Steinmeier and Büdenbender were both carpenters. For this reason the presidential couple have a special relationship with the skilled trade. Vocational education and training is of particular importance to the Federal President. Elke Büdenbender spoke in terms of it being a "matter dear to their hearts". At the master craftsman ceremony in the Paulskirche in Frankfurt in January, Steinmeier had already made a commitment to the skilled trades. "I was not born into a political career, I grew up among skilled craftsman," commented the Federal President at the time. "The two of us need no convincing of the excellent reputation of the skilled trades and of the training in the skilled trades - we represent it ourselves." The presidential couple demonstrated their passion for the skilled trades anew in Bayreuth.