Automation, Technology Transfer and Managerial Practices for Organizational Growth of SMEs. A Smart Curriculum for Competitiveness

Continuous innovation has become a key factor in the global competition in order to acquire the additional factors of production and the new value adding processes, which are essential to keep a sustainable economy. Innovation and technological development in manufacturing automation, here as on the one hand require changing operational processes and organizational modalities of work, further changing staff requirements for employees and entrepreneurs, on the other hand can help to create next-generation of enterprises, able to develop competitive solutions and innovative products. At the same time with innovative manufacturing approaches and methods, can born new professions, new knowledge and skills that will be more and more required to employees, managers and trainers. In this context, it is central to have innovative learning curricula for use of state-of-the-art technologies and this aspect demands manufacturing SMEs highly qualified staff. To enhance the competitiveness and the growth of businesses it is required the upskilling and training of employees to enable effective implementation of the business processes. This poses a significant challenge to SMEs, which often lack the funds and human resources to invest in staff training and translates into a distinct need to provide comprehensive upskilling and training programs in the form of smart learning solutions designed to enable SME personnel to pursue their training goals in a flexible, customizable and easy-to-access way. The research described in this paper sheds light on the perceived upskilling requirements of SME workers and the broad scope of manufacturing systems training materials developed by the innovative methodology of AuToMa smart learning system.