Workforce Development

Telling the Mainstream about Manufacturing

How do we reach the next generation of manufacturing employees? One machine tool company succeeds with local efforts. Meanwhile, “C.H.A.M.P.I.O.N.–Now!” seeks to go national.

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Manufacturing Education Centers for High Schools

Continuing its mission to encourage young people to focus their education on science, technology, engineering and math, the SME Education Foundation is introducing Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) courses at 400 manufacturing education centers across the country.The CIM program is intended to introduce high school students to careers in manufacturing while engaging industry partners and SME chapter members.

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Startup Takes 21st Century Approach To Business

Starting a new machine shop takes persistence and dedication. Although the founder of this startup had no shortage of either, he was aided by an online sourcing platform that eased the process of finding work, building relationships with customers and establishing a reputation for quality.

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How Green Jobs Hurt the Environment

The problem with promising “green jobs” is that the promise is both anti-green and anti-jobs.

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Educational Plasma Cutting Web Site

Hypertherm has launched an educational Web site, PlasmaEducation.com, to help educators, students and others learn more about plasma cutting.

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Job Shop for Work that Can’t Be Jobbed Out

An assortment of parts produced at the Warner Robins shop Some of the more interesting job shops we find are not technically “job shops” at all.

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Assessment Evaluates Employee Potential

The Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) Educational Foundation has announced a newly developed and validated assessment designed to evaluate employment applicants who have no experience in metalworking.

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Training Is Just The First Step

I have long been an advocate of training in manufacturing companies. I do a lot of training in various organizations and have seen some of its benefits first-hand. Yet training requires planning and commitment in order to be effective.

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Turn/Mill

More In The Know

This shop is in the early stages of integrating Internet-based training tailored specifically to the brand of Swiss-type lathes it uses. The goal is to bring prospective employees up to speed quicker while enabling existing employees to progress to more advanced roles in the shop.

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CAD/CAM

There Are Apps For That, Too

These two iPhone apps provide manufacturing professionals and students with quick access to helpful cutting tool information directly from their smart phones.

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