Omen 4.0

They put on the cap and entered the plant. No matter how hard Gabriel tried to follow the conversation there was so much happening in front of his eyes that his attention was scattered and, of course, the hearing protectors did not help at all.

However, he clearly heard the manager's question: "Do you see that group of people on the side of the packing line?" To which he and his partner responded affirmatively, while setting their sights on a group of 12 to 14 people who were striving to finish the product (packaged chocolates) but having trouble closing the boxes. “Well,” he said, looking them in the eye, "we need you to make an automation proposal to replace them."

BOOM! 

Gabriel’s mind started racing. He was clear that the problem was being generated in an adjustment between the times of the conveyors, and that one of the packing machines had issues, which were desynchronizing a part of the process in closing the boxes. With that information, they could present an elegant, low-priced solution that they were sure would earn them the trust of the manager and the company for future work.

But also, he became aware that this simple solution represented a crisis of conscience since it would immediately leave 14 people without work. Collateral damage in the search to reduce costs and improve the quality in the presentation of the product. 

This debate in his mind was nothing more than a repetition of the discussions he’d held hundreds of times since college.

He was pleased to discover at the end of the tour of the plant that the manager had the same concern and listened very carefully to the cost and rational analysis by which the company was entering a strong stage of "total" process automation.

"We hope that by the end of 2025, 100% of the plant will be automated, but we are striving to achieve it sooner." Gabriel raised his eyes and saw the expressions of the supervisors; it was clear that they also had mixed feelings. Certainly, they wanted to meet the goal, although, most likely, by achieving it they would end up without their source of income and looking for work. What a reward!

This short chronicle, based on real events, is happening by the dozen every day in our country.  This "labor market failure" generated by the evolution of technology requires a large-scale adjustment at the level of consciousness and collective action to minimize its terrible impact. 

The question is: Can we as a company, government and society make a better effort to compensate for the thousands of jobs that will inexorably be replaced by machines?

Enunciating this as an abstract project in our country is a fantasy. We all know that the pieces to put the puzzle together are there:

1. The industry will open new vacancies, but these positions will be for qualified technicians with new competencies.

2. Mexico has the public and private institutions and the willingness of teachers and students to "provide" these technicians by the thousands in a good part of the territory. 

3. Society as a whole longs for its young people to prepare well and find work.

4. The government would like to contribute to the generation of well-paid job sources.

5. The current global situation favors this happening in our country in the short term.

Now, the coordination of these elements to achieve the listed objectives and create a synergy that will propel our country quickly to a new stage of development is practically impossible. 

The priorities of all the elements mentioned do not coincide in time and weighting and the necessary leadership to try to make a large-scale adjustment is not there.

In the end, a part of this adjustment in the labor market will end up partially happening by itself, but the cost in the quality of life of many people, the evolution of the industry in Mexico and the reflection of all the above in the economic development at the national level will be enormous. A tremendous country cost opportunity that will again have to be paid and that will only serve to maintain the status quo. 

The anguish generated by the fatalistic tone of the above (which is rather quite realistic) can only be endured by an element that we could call "Design Intention," which is nothing more than trying to influence the general reality from our space of personal, social and professional action.

The Design Intention starts from the clear awareness of the current circumstances and our desire to influence positively and achieve the impact in our first circle of influence. Of course, it requires commitment, but it is more a matter of willingness to contribute to society in a positive way from the first person singular, "I."

We need to believe in our ability to empower other people through opportunities that dignify, enhance and enrich them. Let's develop a culture of creating and believing in well-paid work as a link that unifies and strengthens our society. 

We are all moving in the direction the current is taking us, but it will be those who become aware of which direction to row in who will be rewarded with greater speed and who will set an example to many others who have not realized that they have an oar.

And perhaps, if there are enough of us who want to promote investment in Mexico, those who believe in Mexican workers, those who create outreach programs with our wonderful institutions of public higher education, those who raise awareness of the need to promote technical-scientific careers for young people, those who ask our politicians to invest in future educational projects as the main element of social equality, we might get … what has never been achieved.  

The triumphs of the industry in Mexico have matured more by a fortunate combination than by a coordinated effort. Mexico is a manufacturing powerhouse thanks to the vision of some politicians, the effort of many companies/entrepreneurs, the vocation of thousands of teachers and the commitment and talent of millions of workers,  but we have not achieved the benefits we should, because these efforts have not been managed.

In future articles, I will share more about how to work with design intent from our personal space.

Let's take the first step in the right direction and try to turn the omen into an invitation to success.