Spotlight on Eurostyle Systems
Image makeover
and skills transferability
in the automotive
industry
Spotlight on Eurostyle Systems
Image makeover
and skills transferability
in the automotive
industry
Interview with Victor González, Plant Manager for Eurostyle Systems
The automotive industry has had a rough time over the past four years. The sector has seen a number of changes in the market along with external factors that have influenced consumer purchasing behaviours. Demand for new vehicles initially dropped, but then resumed a slow recovery. Issues like the shift from traditional internal combustion engine-powered vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs) have raised consumer concerns. At the same time, market evolution is not cheap. And until new EVs and other more sustainable vehicles become the consumer norm, uncertainty for production orders will impact labour demand and supply chain functioning.
So, what does the automotive sector need to do to remain viable and successful in a rapidly changing world?
According to Eurostyle Systems, Spain Plant Manager Victor González, the keys lie in an image makeover and skills transferability:
- Green technologies are more important than ever as the world turns its eyes toward sustainability.
- Upskilling workers to meet the demands of a quickly changing and developing industry is vital for success.
- Digitalisation is imperative to drive the automotive talent revolution, which is undergoing massive change.
Working through change and transition
González notes his company’s journey through the current production transition has reflected the transformations in the industry.
“Our industry is continuously evolving. This puts big demands on our production systems: in terms of workers, the skills they need, production process planning and much more. Because the current uncertainty has made it difficult for us to know when we can commit to more standard, long-term hires, scalable hiring solutions like those from Gi Group have helped us get through the recently rough market. Here, I speak of support with temporary hiring solutions that make our business more agile and about bringing on teams to handle fluctuations in production demand“
With transition in mind, the industry still has to plan for hiring and educating a labour force that can work through market disruption. Candidates sought for the industry’s current phase need to be flexible and able to adapt quickly to use of new technologies and also sometimes unpredictable situations. Although, it is not particularly obvious from the messaging coming out of the industry, the modern automotive manufacturing space is innovative, technology-driven, and increasingly socially responsible.
Key Numbers from our
Automotive 2024 Report
80,8%
of automotive workers are either satisfied or very satisfied with their jobs
56%
of companies have specific skills shortages
48%
of companies said they require new skill sets
58%
of companies are running training, upskilling and education programs
Candidate misperceptions of the industry
With all this fast-paced evolution and restructuring going on, it would seem that the automotive sector is the place to be for workers who have a passion for using new tech, for driving innovation, and for supporting efforts to protect the planet.
Yet still, per Gi Group Holding’s new Global Trends report on the auto industry, only 10% of younger candidates say the automotive sector is the best field to work in. Meanwhile, 57% of employees already working for automotive companies say their field is the most desirable to work in. There’s a bit of disjoint here and it is something the industry needs to change.
“There’s a general communication issue that we need to work on. Our company is interested in doing what it takes to attract the right people. We are committed to investing in skills acquisition and training, but, at the same time, we also need to have some certainty that this investment will pay off over the long term,” González added. “We are putting in extra effort to get this message across to candidates: we will invest in your future if you are willing to commit to a longer-term career with us.”
In the Gi Group Holding research, findings showed that the high degree of reticence to explore industry careers comes from misconceptions. Many candidates see the industry as having strong levels of competition (46%) and worry there are limited opportunities for professional growth (up to 44%). They see the industry as having high levels of pressure and stress (up to 41%). But these figures now come up against a market sector that is changing, with today’s required skills as much about understanding and building new technology or process automation as it is about traditional product assembly.
We find that it is difficult to get younger generations excited about careers in the automotive sector. Most of our fresh graduates appear to be fascinated with other career paths. We also have to work to find proper skills matches; we have certain regions in Spain, where we simply cannot find the talent we need. It is also currently challenging to… train next-generation workers. It is interesting though that we do in fact have a strong pipeline for recruiting engineers. Bigger problems arise though when seeking technicians – people who can understand, operate and maintain machines.”
Continuity and sustainability
As the industry evolves and shifts toward more sustainable production, most manufacturers are focused on stability. During the current upheaval, industry HR managers are not always sure who they need to hire for what processes. A decade ago, a company knew when it had orders from the production line; its biggest fear was whether it could deliver parts quickly enough to keep up with demand.
Today, market evolution (via the shift to EV and AV production and the related uncertainty) has led to stagnation in overall sales. Businesses are more cautious in hiring as they monitor what the next in-demand skills will be. In the meantime, it is important that producers focus on their corporate and industry image and bring across the message that the modern automotive industry is about innovation and progress. The tech or marketing roles that young candidates are currently chasing can today just as easily be found in the vehicle production space. That is why industry leaders, and automakers in general, should focus on messages that appeal to candidates while helping ensure their business operations recruit and secure the talent they need to keep pace with competitors (e.g., engineering talent, data scientists and analysts, marketers).
Our company is looking for talent that gets the people factor as well as having needed operational and tech skills. We need operators and engineers who understand the value of teamwork. Our industry is increasingly a space for collaboration; especially, when it comes to tasks like process design, management and oversight.”
At the same time, candidates can access an industry that is leading global sustainability practice and economic or market innovation. Next-generation automotive talent will work in an industry committed to rapid-paced product development and improvement, while pushing for environmentally sustainable operations in a circular economy. Future-ready automotive sector employees will work in a space of constant learning, professional training, and contributions to a safer, sustainable world
Read more about how Eurostyle Systems made over their skills transferability and download our free Automotive 2024 Report to learn where the automotive industry is headed in the future.
About Eurostyle Systems
Eurostyle Systems is a major player in the design and production of interior and exterior automotive solutions with over 60 years of experience and expertise in this field. Through its development centers, Eurostyle Systems brings to its customers all its competence and experience, from expertise, conception/design, project development, to the production phase. Its innovative solutions are developed to meet all the needs of OEMs, particularly in terms of safety, lighter products, a choice of “appearance” plastics, paint substitution, injection molding on fabric decorations and leather covering for many interior parts.
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