Workforce Insights at SAMA Conference and AME Summit
Posted By:
Jeannine Kunz, Vice President, Tooling U-SME on
April 11, 2019
The face of manufacturing is changing. Advanced manufacturing technology is
transforming outdated plant floors to high-tech centers of innovation. At
the same time, baby boomers are exiting the workforce and passing the baton
to Gen Xers, millennials and the newest addition to the labor force, Gen Z.
As the industry increases the application of advanced technologies like 3D
printing, robotics and the internet of things, manufacturers are under the
gun to operate efficiently and keep up productivity, while trying to
attract and retain qualified talent. This means the industry needs a
well-rounded workforce, filled with individuals that possess relevant
skills, can problem-solve and think analytically, and have the aptitude to
work with sophisticated systems.
But what’s a manufacturer to do when unfilled manufacturing jobs in the
U.S. are expected to reach a shortage of close to 2.4 million by 2028?1
Combatting this shortage is no small feat; however, in states like Texas,
business leaders, educators, workforce agencies, associations and other
manufacturing stakeholders are rethinking their approach to retooling the
current and future workforce.
Two Texas-based organizations are collaborating on events that will address
this challenge and help identify actions companies can take to upskill
their workforce. On May 8, the San Antonio Manufacturers Association will
host the 2019 South Central Texas Manufacturing Trade Show & Conference
that will include a keynote session where I will speak on building
structured and sustainable learning and development programs. The following
day, I will lead a presentation at the Association for Manufacturing
Excellence’s 2019 Summit to shed light on preparing and sustaining
career-ready citizens.
Both events will provide attendees with examples of how groups of
employers, community colleges, workforce agencies, intermediaries, youth
programs, labor organizations, policy experts and others across the country
are advancing apprenticeship and work-based learning strategies through
community-based collaborations.
If you plan to be in the San Antonio area May 8-10, I hope you attend the
SAMA trade show/conference as well as the AME Summit. If you register now,
you could receive a 50% discount for the AME Summit as
well as a free registration for the SAMA trade show and conference.
Click here to register for the AME Summit (use discount code: Educate), and here for the SAMA trade show
and conference.
1. 2018 Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute skills gap and future of
work study: https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/manufacturing/articles/future-of-manufacturing-skills-gap-study.html↩
Tags:
"advanced manufacturing", "Association for Manufacturing Excellence Summit", "San Antonio Manufacturers Association", "skills gap", "South Central Texas Manufacturing Trade Show & Conference", Texas