Hosted by the Spanish Maintenance Association (AEM), a premier European authority representing thousands of maintenance professionals and researchers, this roundtable addresses the pressing human side of the asset management equation. Industrial organisations globally face a dual workforce challenge, marked by an ageing demographic taking vital legacy knowledge into retirement and a pronounced talent gap in recruiting tech-savvy technicians to operate modern, data-driven systems.

This highly collaborative, interactive session moves beyond technology talk to examine the cultural and generational shifts currently taking place on the shop floor. Participants will explore how evolving employee expectations, digital transformation, and shifting workplace dynamics are changing the way organisations attract, engage, and retain talent across complex operations.

The discussion will focus on practical approaches to building a continuous learning culture and accelerating knowledge transfer between veteran technicians and incoming talent. Attendees will discover how national industry associations and corporate leaders are teaming up to revitalise the maintenance profession, elevate its strategic value, and build a resilient workforce equipped for the future.

Key discussion areas:
• Navigating the generational shift on the shop floor while capturing and preserving critical legacy knowledge before experienced workers retire
• Developing effective strategies to recruit, upskill, and retain tech-savvy technicians capable of managing digital maintenance systems
• Cultivating a continuous learning culture that bridges the digital skills gap and promotes ongoing workforce agility
• Partnering with national associations and industry leaders to rebrand and revitalise the maintenance profession for future generations