The effects of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on the career progression of engineers in the South African packaging industry

Abstract : The purpose of this research is to assess the important impact points that prevail through the career progression in the engineering field to managerial roles. The research goal is to bring forth the alignment of effective engineering based management in engineering departments of the organization by assessing the competencies of an engineer in the Third Industrial Revolution with the transition to the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The research looks at the complexity of the development of engineers as analytical human resource of organizations to overseeing managerial responsibilities. It also assesses the three traditional methods of career paths and career ladders that engineers can be developed and progress within the organization. The research therefore looked at the theoretical studies on the literature review. These studies covered the fundamentals of career ladders. The literature looked at the structure of career ladders in terms of engineering as a professional career. The literature then moved to assess the transition of an engineer to becoming a manager with reference to the Third Industrial Revolution to the Fourth Industrial Revolution. How the career ladders of engineers are affected by the competencies needed during the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The research then formulated a methodology that it followed on collecting the feedback from the research population. Survey questionnaires were utilized to assess the views of the respondents. The research posed sets of questions to ascertain the organization‟s readiness to the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The organization was found to be fairly ready for the revolution. The research also showed that the organization had some of the engineering competencies required for engineering in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Finally the career ladders of the organization need to be looked at to match the requirements of career ladders needed in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.M.Phil. (Engineering Management