But just because young people grow up learning on computers doesn't mean they necessarily lack hands-on skills. Attracting new blood to the industry isn't enough. There has to be a melding of skills between the new generation of technicians and the old. They need to learn from each other. New technology is changing iron forever, but the tasks still are the same.
Machines still do the work with blades, tracks, buckets and booms.
To bridge the gap between young and old, senior staffers might want to swap a few football games for a night course in electronics or hydraulics at a local technical school or learn from their new co-worker. Kids can't go back to a simpler time. But they can learn a bunch of tricks of the trade from old-timers. Being a sharp mechanic, or technician, takes both knowledge and wisdom. What would be ideal is for both young and old to come together and learn from each other.