The Impact of COVID-19 on the Electrical Engineering Industry: Four Likely Permanent Effects

The COVID-19 pandemic has hastened the transition to digitalization in electrical engineering. As a result of the pandemic, many businesses instituted telecommuting policies and started using online tools for communicating with employees. This transition has led to a rise in the need for electrical engineers specializing in digital technologies such as automation, artificial intelligence, and machine learning(Chang and Gomes). Many businesses have placed significant bets on 5G technology in response to the rising demand for secure and dependable communication networks. It is anticipated that the trend toward digitalization will persist long after the pandemic has ended as the world continues to rely on technology.

The interruption of international supply chains is another way the pandemic has impacted the electrical engineering sector. Many countries had to close their borders because of the pandemic, which caused supply delays and shortages. Many electrical engineering components are made in China and Taiwan, which means the industry relies heavily on international supply chains(Frieske and Stieler). Decreased productivity, higher costs, and postponed project delivery result from disrupting these supply chains. Many businesses have responded by establishing regional supply chains and forming partnerships with vendors in the same area. The current tendency toward using local resources and manufacturing is anticipated to last long after the epidemic has passed.

Even in the field of electrical engineering, the pandemic has highlighted the significance of resilience. The pandemic caused delays and increased costs by affecting project timelines, supply chains, and workforce availability. Businesses prepared for these changes had a distinct edge over their competitors. Companies are expected to invest in technologies that increase their resilience to disruptions due to the growing importance of resilience in the industry. Two examples are automation technologies, which allow for more efficient manufacturing and less reliance on human labor, or predictive analytics, which help foresee and manage disruptions before they happen.

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Electrical Engineering Industry

In electrical engineering, the pandemic has hastened the uptake of cutting-edge innovations. Companies have had to embrace new digital technologies to keep operations operating smoothly as remote employment has become the standard. As a result, resources have been redirected to developing IoT, AI, and automation tools. Thus, professionals with these skill sets are anticipated to be in high demand in electrical engineering. The epidemic has also highlighted the need to invest in digital infrastructure, such as high-speed internet and smart grid technologies, to facilitate remote work and improve energy efficiency. In sum, the electrical engineering field has felt the repercussions of the COVID-19 epidemic in both the immediate and long term. It is anticipated that the sector will recover. Still, to stay competitive, it must adapt to the new normal brought on by the epidemic and embrace new technology.

Four Likely Permanent Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Electrical Engineering Industry

• Remote Work Policies

Siemens is a good example of a corporation that has adopted rules allowing employees to work remotely. The business announced in July 2020 that it would allow its workers to work remotely for two or three days each week. The business said it had undertaken a poll in which it discovered that most of its workers favored a model that combined working from home with time spent in the office(Jha). Roland Busch, the firm’s CEO, noted that the epidemic had expedited the adoption of regulations for remote work, which he thinks will be a permanent shift in how work is done.

Despite this, electrical engineering has encountered several obstacles because of rules about remote work. One of the most significant difficulties is ensuring that workers have access to the tools and equipment needed to operate remotely. For instance, to carry out their duties, engineers may be required to use specialized software or gear that is not always easily accessible outside of the workplace. To guarantee that rules regarding remote work are successful, businesses must invest to ensure their workers have access to the appropriate tools and technology.

Keeping open lines of communication and fostering cooperation among team members is another problem brought up by regulations permitting remote work. When workers are dispersed over several locations, it may not be easy to guarantee everyone is on the same page and contributing to achieving the same objectives(Jha). It will be necessary for businesses to make investments in communication technologies and tactics to guarantee that their workers can successfully interac