Electronics & communications
Mobile phone technology is perhaps the most obvious example of how science and technology has impacted on our everyday lives.
Ever since Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison carried out their pioneering work, people have been working on innovations which would bring electronic communications to a mass market.
Today talk is cheap and at any given time, the global airwaves are full of millions of people have millions of conversations.
People can talk to whoever they want, no matter where they are. Speech is just the start and today mobile technology is all about convergence – bringing 3G added value to your handset with the addition of mobile internet browsing, mobile TV, music, internet radio and seamless email connectivity.
Significant in this convergence has been the development of better media players which allow users to store compressed data in MP3 or Mpeg formats.
Underlying one of the world’s biggest market’s is the general science and ongoing innovation in electronics.
One of the principal branches of electrical engineering, it relates to the business of creating, designing, producing and selling electronic systems, components and equipment.
Manufacturing encompasses production of electronic components including semi-conductors, communications technology, consumer electronics, computers and other IT equipment, and electronic instrumentation and control equipment.
The sector also includes the manufacture of:
- office machinery and computers
- radio, television and communication equipment and apparatus
- medical, precision and optical instruments, watches and clocks
- electronic components including semi-conductors
- electronic instrumentation and process control equipment
- navigational device
Future
In line with the innovative and competitive nature of the industry, the future skills needs include entrepreneurial skills, production planning skills and supply chain management skills. Professional roles such as design engineers and skills that are key to research and development activities and technician roles that involve good technical skills combined with team leadership and forward planning skills.
Investment, innovation, Supply Chain Management and lean manufacturing will all impact on the skills required for major productivity gains for the electronics sector.
The occupational mix and skills level of the electronics workforce is changing as first tier companies and Original Equipment Manufacturers ( OEMs ) reduce the proportion of lower skilled people employed through changes in technology and work practices, and this is also occurring in the supply chain. This change will be compounded by an increased focus on high value New Product Design and Introduction (NPDI) activity and the move towards high performance and lean working.