Fixed Ops Magazine 2023 Vol 20-3 - 56

computers and machinery to accompany it. Even then,
human technicians will still be needed to do the dexterity
work that a robot cannot do. Techs will also be
required to supervise as well as perform quality and
safety checks on the work performed, to maintain and
fix the assistance equipment itself, and to provide the
trust and human oversight that customers depend
upon. While many traditional duties of a technician
may be replaced or supplemented by technology, new
roles will open. We'll need technicians for charging stations,
technical engineers in collision repair who can
handle the more severe damage done by the weight of
the batteries, people doing sophisticated calibrations,
and new technical positions that we haven't imagined
yet. Transportation isn't going away. In fact, " mobility "
is booming.
Also exciting for the future of this workforce is that the
technician profession will become more genderless.
Due to advancing technologies and equipment that
make it less physically taxing to do the job, and because
these are high-tech, STEM careers, more women
will be attracted to the career. With less than 3% of all
technicians today being women, advancing technologies
offer the best chance that the profession will become
more representative of diverse populations. After
all, an engine or computer doesn't care whether it's
a male or female tech. Attracting people of all diverse
backgrounds to enter this profession will help to meet
the current demand.
POWER IN LANGUAGE
When I speak about the " future of mobility " to folks on
the street, they say 'mobility' sounds like wheelchairs.
But it's the terminology being used to describe the
transformation that is occurring. Innovation and private
equity investment is flooding the sector. We're moving
rapidly in advancing electric and autonomous vehicles,
and thus the need and demand for skilled technicians
is certainly evolving with it.
Industry has buried the term 'mechanic' because it no
longer represents the skill set needed beyond the mechanics
of the vehicle. These are now computers on
wheels. Hence, the industry refers to the workforce as
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Fixed Ops Magazine 2023 Vol 20-3

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