Industry faces a major transition, placing tough demands on today’s leaders. To meet these challenges, Emmy Wixenius – a production planning manager at Scania – chose to study a course in Technical Leadership for Future Industry Processes at the University of Skövde.
Emmy Wixenius is a Production Planning Manager at Scania in Oskarshamn. Her everyday work consists of leading and preparing Scania’s various production flows. Scania and Emmy Wixenius are not the only ones dealing with the major transition within industry, and this work requires knowledge about how leaders should think and act. Wixenius and a colleague therefore decided to study the Technical Leadership for Future Industry Processes course at the University of Skövde.
“I chose this course to get a better perspective on what I work with,” explains Wixenius. “Industry 4.0 involves so many challenges. It’s not just a matter of understanding the opportunities. You also need to grasp the company’s complex journey and the competences needed along the way.”
What are the responsibilities of a technical leader?
Swedish industry is currently facing one of the greatest challenges since the Industrial Revolution. Sweeping changes are needed in order to remain competitive. Working as a leader within industry involves great responsibility, in view of the developments within ethical sustainability and gender equality aspects, and the transition that is currently taking place. Wixenius believes that the importance of technical competence is one of the course elements that has had the greatest impact on her.
“During the course, we discussed different approaches in different leadership styles,” she continues. “But what was even more interesting is how we as leaders can think when recruiting. How do we recruit for the future, and which technical competences will be needed? This isn’t the same as recruiting for our current needs. This insight has influenced how I see my management role.”
How the University’s flexible courses work
The Technical Leadership for Future Industry Processes course that Wixenius studied is entirely digital. This means that all the lectures are pre-recorded, and the course participants can go through the material at a time that suits them. Students are also invited to optional digital meetings, which have proved extremely popular as they allow participants to make valuable new contacts. For Wixenius, the flexible structure of the course was a deciding factor when choosing her studies. One thing that she particularly appreciated was the digital meetings.
“Here, I was able to meet with my peers and discuss, share and find out how they’d interpreted the various theories addressed during the course. These insights were extremely valuable. Studying the theory is one thing, but actually taking action is something else entirely.”
Study an industrial course
Are you interested in studying an industrial course? Here at the University of Skövde, we have a wide range of courses for those working in industry, including courses on future technologies and working methods. Take the opportunity to focus on yourself and your career.