Skill up: Training workers on ISO standards, 3D printing, chemicals, and more

It's close to the end of October, which means Manufacturing Month is drawing to a close. It’s an apt time to take a look at recent efforts to train the manufacturing workforce, whether that includes people new to manufacturing or re-skilling veterans of the industrial workforce. This digest covers five recent moves made to educate students and augment manufacturing workers with in-demand skills necessary to succeed in industry.

The Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry is partnering up with the UT Center for Industrial Services to provide training opportunities under the name of the Forge Training Partnership. In an October 9 joint statement, the groups said the UT Center would provide instructors for training the Tennessee Chamber will manage and market. The workshops listed by the groups include “AI for Manufacturing Workshop,” “8D Problem Solving,” and Internal Auditor courses for the IATF 16949 and ISO 9001 standards. In a statement, Tennessee Chamber CEO Josh Brown said the partnership with the UT Center “is about meeting manufacturers where they are and equipping them with the tools they need to succeed.”

In Alabama, EOS North America announced a new partnership October 23 with Jacksonville State University’s Center for Manufacturing Support. As part of the partnership, the CMS will receive a second EOS metal 3D printer and incorporate EOS’ Ignite training program into its curriculum and workforce programs. “The Ignite Program was meant to bridge the gap between industrial needs and education,” said Fabian Alefeld, global director of business development and Additive Minds Academy at EOS.

Arclin Amines hosted 100 third graders of Charleston, West Virginia at its third annual “STEM” celebration in honor of National Manufacturing Month. Local news site WCHS reported the students were taught about chemical properties like solubility and density and basic chemicals manufacturing by making their own bouncy balls from polymer.

Arcadia, Wisconsin-based Ashley Furniture Industries hosted almost a thousand students on factory tours this month, according to Furniture Today. Fifteen students from around the country toured Ashley’s North Carolina, Mississippi, Texas, and Wisconsin factories to get a glimpse of what a modern furniture factory looks like on the inside, with automation and advanced processes.

On October 14, the GE Aerospace Foundation announced it would launch a $30 million workforce skills training program. The company said it would spend the money over five years to help local programs purchase equipment, hire training staff and help aspirant skilled workers with financial barriers. In addition to the $30 million, the foundation said it would spend $2.5 million in donations this year to help fund existing technical programs at Cincinnati State in Ohio, Tarrant County Community College in Texas, Vaughn College in New York, and the University of the District of Columbia, in Washington, D.C.