Enginuity Future Skills Hub

Engineering and manufacturing is rapidly transforming, making it hard for employers to know what skills they need to keep pace with change. The Enginuity Future Skills Hub aims to demystify the skills, trends and transitions reshaping industries within the UK’s engineering and manufacturing sector.

What is data analysis and visualisation?

Data analysis and visualisation involves collecting, examining and presenting data to derive actionable information and business insights.

Data analysis uncovers patterns, trends, or correlations, while data visualisation uses graphs or charts to communicate findings effectively.

Data analysis and visualisation explained

How is data analysis and visualisation used?

Data analysis and visualisation is used in many ways, including production analysis, supply chain and market analysis, workforce productivity, and safety monitoring. Examples include:

Identifying production patterns related to product quality, and equipment and machinery performance
Evaluating demand patterns, inventory levels, and lead times
Analysing energy consumption and compliance with regulations
Supporting cost analysis and budgeting
Analysing customer feedback and satisfaction, tracking market trends, and evaluating competitor performance.
Assessing workforce productivity and safety metrics.

Benefits of analysis and visualisation

Data analysis and visualisation applies to various aspects of engineering and manufacturing processes, enhancing efficiency, and supporting strategic decision-making in small to medium-sized enterprises.

Analysis and visualisation and Industry 4.0

Data analysis and visualisation are fundamental to , providing insights into complex datasets and driving data-driven decision-making. They enable real-time monitoring, predictive analytics, and prescriptive insights, empowering organisations to optimise processes, improve quality, and drive innovation in environments.

Analysis and visualisation and sustainability

Data analysis and visualisation can support sustainability by optimising production processes, identifying energy-efficient strategies and waste reduction opportunities, and monitoring environmental performance metrics. This leads to resource efficiency, reduced waste, and improved overall sustainability in data-driven operations.

What skills might you need?

Skills needed for data analysis and visualisation include proficiency in data manipulation, statistical analysis, and data visualisation tools such as Tableau or Power BI. Additionally, expertise in programming languages such as SQL, Python, or R, and domain-specific knowledge in engineering or manufacturing processes are useful for deriving actionable insights from large datasets and communicating findings effectively to stakeholders.

Other specific skills include:

Data analysis
Data management
Data modelling
Data mining
Data science
Data warehousing
Database design
Information security
Problem management
Project management
Change management
Visualisation
Stakeholder relationship management

What skills might you need?

Other specific skills include:

Data analysis
Data management
Data modelling
Data mining
Data science
Data warehousing
Database design
Information security
Problem management
Project management
Change management
Visualisation
Stakeholder relationship management

Who might need them?

While not everyone in the organisation may need advanced skills in data analysis and visualisation, there are certain roles and functions where these skills are particularly valuable, including:

Data analysts and scientists
Business intelligence (BI) and analytics specialists
IT and database professionals
Project managers and leaders
Quality control and process improvement specialists
Operations and supply chain management
Decision-makers and executives
Frontline workers.

Useful resources

Barrs Court Engineering

Discover how this precision engineering company developed the skills needed in the workforce to adopt digitalisation in the factory.

Dig a bit deeper?

Visit Skills for the Information Age (SFIA), the global skills and competency framework for the digital world.