the use of practical, online and instructor-led learning tools to expand their capabilities.
Manufacturing Skills Shortage: How One Company Solved
It—“Skilled labor is a huge problem for us,” said Brian Papke, president of Mazak USA. “Most companies expect the govern- ment to step in and help out, but at Mazak, we decided to be proactive.” Papke circled the wagons at his Florence, KY, headquarters and developed a variety of training initiatives to offer entry-level positions and career advancement at Mazak. “We are proud to say that the people we recruit and hire stay with us and grow with us in most cases.” At the core of Mazak’s training program is SME’s Tool- ing University—a combination of computer-based training, classroom training and hands-on work with Mazak machines. Utilizing a state-of-the-art training center with the capacity for 200 students, Mazak is facing its workforce issues head on. In addition to Mazak University, Papke and his team partnered with local Gateway Community College to custom build a two- year program to produce apprentice engineers and machin- ists. Other advanced manufacturers are developing similar collaborations. Cincinnati-based Milacron Plastics Technology recently announced a 15-week pilot program for machinists at the University of Cincinnati Clermont College. Such programs seem to be working, at least for Mazak.
“We have hired 300 people since 2008 and are proud that we have helped develop some fantastic young people!” said Papke triumphantly. [Sept. 10, 2012, Industry Trends]
The third issue is how do we get our brave men and wom- en who have served our country the right skills to enter the manufacturing workforce? This can be achieved through using assessment tools fundamentally based on skills certifications and credentials, and then providing specific blended learn- ing opportunities that, if used, will allow our valuable asset of returning veterans to solve some of our skills gap issues. Two examples of how SME is supporting this initiative: SME Works with US Army to Help Solve the Manufactur- ing Skills Gap—Over the next five years, there will be up to a million military personnel returning to civilian life and getting into the US civilian workforce. Juxtapose this with the 600,000 jobs currently open in advanced manufacturing and the anticipated need for 10-million skilled workers by 2020, and SME sees a “win-win” opportunity for all. Through this partnership with the Society, the Army will expand certification opportunities for service members in highly specialized and technical engineering fields. The Ar-
my’s Engineer school will conduct a one-year pilot program to assess the potential for engineer officers and warrant officers to meet SME’s Certified Manufacturing Technologist (CMfgT) or Lean Bronze Certification credentials. These industry- recognized credentials will help service members qualify and pursue jobs as manufacturing technicians, technologists and engineers in the private sector.
This partnership with the DOD aligns with the White
House’s goal of having 500,000 workers receive NAM-en- dorsed manufacturing certifications over the next five years, and positions individuals for employment and advancement in manufacturing jobs. [July 9, 2012, SME Press Release] Workshop for Warriors—Since October 2011, Hernán Luis y Prado has been impacting two serious problems facing our nation with one brilliant solution: Workshops for Warriors. Through mentorship, training and education, this organization helps put veterans to work in skilled manufac- turing jobs.
Improving the lives of veterans and the families who depend on them isn’t the only upside to this story. Local manufacturers who have been struggling to find skilled work- ers are tapping into the program to fill positions with excep- tional people. Luis y Prado explains, “Workshops for Warriors’ mission is to help put America back to work, one veteran at a time. There are more than two-million manufacturing jobs open in the United States, at the same time unemployment among veterans—especially those between 18 and 24—is ex- tremely high. Hiring our graduates is a win-win for this country and for the people who served it.”
As a direct result of a recent $25,000 gift from SME-EF via the Gene Haas Foundation, Luis y Prado was able to put his first student through the National Institute for Metalwork- ing Skills (NIMS) certification program and get Workshops for Warriors on the path to becoming a NIMS-accredited facility— the first in San Diego. [August 23, 2012, SME Press Release] These are just a few examples of how we are starting to climb the mountain and solve our skilled workforce issues. If not solved, manufacturing will have its own cliff to fall off of. It’s our job as manufacturing practitioners, companies and educational institutions involved in manufacturing to understand the problem, engage in conversations with the misinformed and suggest best practices. Doing so will allow us to avoid any cliffs in our climb up the mountain where the end result is manufacturing being the foundation for a viable economy and a better life! ME