Stop “Reacting” to the Workforce Shortage

EDITOR’S FORUM

In this issue’s cover story, Drew “The MFG” Crowe, one of the leaders of the New American Manufacturing Renaissance, details how fabricators and metalworkers fully understand people aren’t beating down the doors looking for jobs. It isn’t because there aren’t opportunities — there are plenty of unfilled jobs — one component comes down to awareness. People outside the manufacturing sector aren’t aware of the levels of robotics, automation, software innovations and advanced materials used every day in shops. Advances that would appeal to the upcoming generation, which constantly seeks technology.

Crowe, a metal machinist by trade and who travels to cities throughout the United States to share the benefits of manufacturing, posits that if this generation, as well as women and diverse groups, don’t see you they will see another industry’s messages. He encourages metalworkers to keep their online presence fresh and actively share and like social media messages. Manufacturers should also reach out to local community colleges, workforce development boards, guidance counselors, and local chambers to learn how you can be an asset; ask what they need from you. Or start new initiatives. Anything to build the pipeline.

It Takes Everyone to Create Awareness

Metalworkers should also tap into partnership and collaboration opportunities with suppliers who continue to provide training programs, scholarship money, and internship and apprenticeship opportunities, to grow a skilled manufacturing workforce.

Earlier this year, officials from Mastercam, the world’s no. 1 CAM software program, along with Crowe, presented Benjamin Franklin High School in Philadelphia, Pa., with software, equipment, and the vision to establish an advanced manufacturing program. The donation enables students to receive the advanced training required to enter the manufacturing field after graduating high school. Crowe shared his story and vision with students to connect them to the career opportunities in advanced manufacturing.

Mastercam is among numerous supplier workforce-related announcements from recent months, including:

• ESAB has made a long-term commitment to Northern Tool + Equipment’s Tools for the Trades Program. ESAB donated welding and cutting equipment to Lecanto High School in Lecanto, Fla., at an event attended by Ronnie Renner, a 10-time gold medal winner in the X Games Moto X Step Up jump event.
• For the 2023 academic year, Airgas, an Air Liquide company, announced its High School Welding Education Initiative supports 14 returning schools and 41 new schools from 22 states. Participating programs receive training or continuing education for welding teachers with Airgas experts. Airgas donates welding consumables, equipment, PPE and other resources.
• Festo Didactic’s new Festo Learning Experience (Festo LX) digital learning portal offers individualized training (micro learning) approaches that incorporate tools such as virtual reality and augmented reality. The company is a global leader in automation technology.
• ABB Robotics launched a robot training package to prepare students for opportunities in robotics. The package includes the GoFa™ collaborative robot cell, 56 hours of teaching materials and globally recognized STEM certifications

And the list of partnerships and collaborations goes on, which present training opportunities for your shop. As a manufacturing company, be intentional and start having conversations locally and digitally and bring the metalworking industry to your future labor pool.

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