Future Skills: How Technology Sustains Operational Performance

Labor shortages and rapid technological change are posing significant challenges for the packaging industry. interpack 2026 puts this issue in the spotlight under its “Future Skills” hot topic—highlighting new approaches to recruiting, retention, and workforce development.

To stay competitive, companies need new talent, new capabilities, and new technological tools for their teams. The “Future Skills” focus area showcases current approaches, including intuitive human-machine interfaces, virtual reality, operator assistance systems, and training through microlearning.

Modern human-machine interfaces (HMIs) are intelligent, interactive systems that differ significantly from traditional control panels. They make machines accessible in a way that allows operators to work safely and efficiently—even without extensive prior experience.

Powered by artificial intelligence, these systems adapt to user behavior and can anticipate operational needs. Gesture and voice control further simplify interaction, with voice commands enabling hands-free operation.

Augmented reality enhances this interaction by overlaying digital information directly onto the physical work environment. This supports operators in tasks such as maintenance and machine operation and can also be used for on-the-job training.

Virtual reality is no longer limited to product development, engineering, or simulation—it is also transforming training environments. It enables complex processes to be communicated in a clear, practical, and immersive way.

In virtual environments, workflows can be learned and practiced interactively without tying up real machines or introducing safety risks. This shortens onboarding times and enables more flexible, scalable training.

Experience remains critical for stable and efficient production processes—but it is increasingly scarce. Digital, self-learning operator assistance systems address this challenge by capturing and structuring knowledge.

They analyze machine states, process data, and operator actions, identify patterns, and link them to specific recommendations. During initial use, operators provide feedback by confirming, correcting, or refining these suggestions, allowing the system’s knowledge base to continuously grow.

This makes operational expertise accessible beyond individual employees. The result: reduced dependency on experienced staff, faster onboarding, and lower error rates and waste.

The way knowledge is delivered is also evolving. In many companies, critical process knowledge is scattered across multiple systems and documents—often difficult to access and poorly structured.

Large language models can consolidate and structure this knowledge into small, easily digestible learning units. These microlearning modules can be integrated directly into daily workflows, enabling continuous learning.

The result is a flexible and sustainable approach to knowledge transfer that goes beyond traditional training formats.

Future Skills are not only about technology and training—they also involve attracting new talent and building long-term engagement within the industry. The future of packaging depends on how appealing the sector is to different target groups and how effectively people are connected. Initiatives such as Young Talents Day and Women in Packaging play a key role here.

Young Talents Day is aimed at students, graduates, and early-career professionals. It provides orientation, highlights career pathways, and connects potential talent with companies. Participants can explore job profiles, build networks, and gain insight into the diversity of the industry.

Women in Packaging, an international networking event, brings together women at all career stages—from early-career professionals to senior leaders. The focus is on exchange, inspiration, and discussions around key topics such as career development, diversity, and leadership.

These developments make one thing clear: technology is not only taking over operational tasks—it is also becoming a vehicle for learning, applying, and sharing knowledge.

This opens up new opportunities for companies to build and leverage capabilities for the future. In this context, Future Skills are becoming a key factor in maintaining long-term competitiveness.