Tooling U-SME Blog

The Best of SMX: Manufacturing Training Consistent Theme

Date: November 13, 2020
Posted by:Chad Schron, Senior Director, Tooling U-SME

Recently SME produced its first virtual event focused on smart manufacturing, The Best of SMX. After participating, I am more inspired about the future of manufacturing and its workforce.

The well-attended event on October 29 brought together large and small manufacturers from all industries to discuss crucial strategic and workforce issues, as well as disruptive technologies destined to change the face of manufacturing globally over the next decade. Read More.

Educators Deserve Big Thanks for Pandemic Response

Date: October 20, 2020
Posted by:Jeannine Kunz, Vice President, Tooling U-SME

Back in April, I wrote about the transformations taking place in the educational system due to COVID-19. The move to remote learning was urgent and fast.

Caught off guard, educators had to quickly pivot to virtual teaching with little direction and few resources. Read More.

College of the Canyons Produces & Donates Thousands of Face Shields

Date: October 13, 2020
Posted by:Gretchen Schultz, Director of Workforce Development, Tooling U-SME

We love hearing inspiring stories from our customers. Today, we are sharing the important work of our colleagues at College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, California, who filled an urgent need for personal protective equipment (PPE) in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read More.

New SME Award Honors Excellence in Manufacturing Workforce Training

Date: October 08, 2020
Posted by:Jeannine Kunz, Vice President, Tooling U-SME

Immediate workforce development is crucial to manufacturing’s future. In response, high-impact learning organizations (HILOs) are taking steps now to prepare more workers for the next generation of jobs.

These manufacturers know that investing in people is as critical as investing in equipment or technology and that it has a direct connection to their success. Read More.

Manufacturers and Educators Collaborate to Fortify Worker Pipeline Despite Pandemic

Date: September 08, 2020
Posted by:Jeannine Kunz, Vice President, Tooling U-SME

Despite half a year of unprecedented — and unexpected — change due to coronavirus, the manufacturing industry powers on. From medical supplies to consumer products, things must get made.

What hasn’t changed? The urgent need for skilled workers. Read More.

Pandemic Accelerating Move to Industry 4.0

Date: August 18, 2020
Posted by:Chad Schron, Senior Director, Tooling U-SME

It’s hard to believe how much has changed in the manufacturing industry in less than six months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Take supply and demand. The global health crisis has moved masks, testing swabs, ventilators and a vaccine (which means more syringes and needles) to the top of the priority list, while purchases of less urgent consumer goods fall lower. Manufacturers continue to shift production priorities to help support national needs. Read More.

Manufacturers Make Changes to Prepare for a Post-Pandemic World

Date: August 03, 2020
Posted by:Chad Schron, Senior Director, Tooling U-SME

In our continuing series around findings from the SME 2020 COVID-19 Future Outlook Study, today we look at how companies, post-pandemic, will shift company operations. Read More.

Survey: COVID-19 Propels Manufacturers to Reshore Operations

Date: July 23, 2020
Posted by:Chad Schron, Senior Director, Tooling U-SME

COVID-19 shines a bright light on challenges related to the supply chain — some already felt before coronavirus hit — so it’s no surprise that manufacturers are considering moving production back to the U.S., as COVID-19 continues to impact manufacturing jobs and the industry.

According to the SME 2020 COVID-19 Future Outlook Study, one-quarter of respondents indicated their company plans to reshore manufacturing production to the U.S. Read More.

SME Study Looks at Impact of COVID-19 on Manufacturing Industry

Date: July 16, 2020
Posted by:Chad Schron, Senior Director, Tooling U-SME

With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to sweep across the United States, there has been much speculation about its long-term impact on the manufacturing industry and the industry’s ability to recover.

In April, SME surveyed more than 700 manufacturing professionals to understand how their companies will begin to recover post-COVID-19. Read More.

Preparing an Industry 4.0 workforce for the manufacturing sector

Date: June 25, 2020
Posted by:Greg Surtman, Workforce Development Strategist, Tooling U-SME

The need to advance workforce education for Industry 4.0 related technology was at the forefront of the National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers’ (NCATC) Summer Workshop, held at Oakland Community College (OCC) in Auburn Hills, Michigan. As one of two new board directors for NCATC, I had the opportunity – along with representatives from some 75 community colleges and industry partners – to attend the workshop, entitled “Empowering Innovation: Equipping our Workforce for Industry 4.0.” Read More.