Blog | Tooling U-SME

After the Grant: How to Sustain Your Manufacturing Program

Date: May 23, 2018
Posted by:Michael Freed, Manager Manufacturing Solutions, Workforce Development, Sinclair Community College, Dayton, OH

Mr. Freed discusses how Sinclair Community College was able to sustain its Industrial Maintenance Program long after grant funding was over. Read More.

Students and Parents Should Consider Vocational Schools

Date: May 22, 2018
Posted by:Jeff Krause, Chief Executive Officer, SME

Over the next few weeks, high school seniors across the country will graduate and receive their diploma. Nearly 70 percent of those graduates will move on to college or a four-year university, while few choose vocational or trade school; in 2015, 20 million Americans attended degree-granting postsecondary institutions, while only 412,000 attended non-degree-granting institutions or those that offer career and technical programs. Read More.

Building a “Smart” Workforce

Date: May 15, 2018
Posted by:Jeannine Kunz, Vice President, Tooling U-SME

While still early stage, manufacturers are seeing the necessity of implementing a Smart Manufacturing strategy for benefits including increased efficiency, improved quality, shorter cycle times, increased innovation, and cost reduction.

As explained in SME’s first of three Smart Manufacturing Reports, Smart Manufacturing: A Competitive Necessity, the same technical revolution underway at home—with smart devices like Amazon’s intelligent personal assistant Alexa to play a favorite song or change the temperature—is taking place in the manufacturing facility. Read More.

Developing a Custom Lean Program for a Nontraditional Audience

Date: May 07, 2018
Posted by:Jeannine Kunz, Vice President, Tooling U-SME

Lean has long been associated with manufacturing, and in particular, the automotive industry. But since it was first introduced decades ago, industries of all types have begun to understand that the basic premises of lean — continuous improvement and delivering maximum value while minimizing waste — are beneficial in manufacturing and far beyond. Read More.

Smart Manufacturing Experience Comes to Boston

Date: April 30, 2018
Posted by:Jeannine Kunz, Vice President, Tooling U-SME

This week, the inaugural Smart Manufacturing Experience event takes place April 30-May 2 at the Boston Convention Center. Thousands of manufacturers are joining to learn more about how to strategically — and practically — thrive during this digital revolution. Read More.

Innovative Training for the New Collar Workforce is Key to Bridging the Skills Gap

Date: April 24, 2018
Posted by:Sarah Boisvert, Chief 3D Printing Officer, Potomac Photonics

Sarah Boisvert is the Founder and CEO of Fab Lab Hub, a part of the international Fab Lab Network based at MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms in Cambridge MA. She is the co-founder of Potomac Photonics, Inc., a laser micro machining company in Maryland that she and partners sold in 1999. Read More.

Automation Impacts Welding Profession

Date: April 18, 2018
Posted by:Jeannine Kunz, Vice President, Tooling U-SME

When it comes to job openings for maintenance and repair workers, welding is one of the top four skills requested, according to Burning Glass Technologies’ Labor Insight Jobs report.

That’s not surprising since the welding industry is expected to face a shortage of 400,000 operators by 2024, our partners at the American Welding Society tell us. This is primarily due to the aging population of current welders and a skills gap of qualified employees to fill open positions. Read More.

Manufacturers: Robots Are Friends, Not Foes

Date: April 12, 2018
Posted by:Jeff Krause, Chief Executive Officer, SME

When I think about robots, a few things come to mind: Automation, smart manufacturing, artificial intelligence, R2-D2, WALL-E and better opportunities for workers. Robots have clearly impacted pop culture, but also many industries throughout the U.S. including agriculture, healthcare, defense, and manufacturing. This week, April 7-15, we celebrate National Robotics Week (#RoboWeek) to acknowledge the importance of the robotics industry, especially in relation to manufacturing. Read More.

Don’t Fear Change, Embrace It

Date: March 26, 2018
Posted by:Richard Evans, LBC

Richard Evans, LBC, is a Lean Coach, Certified Training Within Industry (TWI) Instructor, and President of JR Lean. He is also the President of AME Canada and Immediate Past Chair of the Lean Certification Oversight and Appeals Committee. Read More.

Capitol Hill Testimony: Advancing Apprenticeships for Small Business

Date: March 22, 2018
Posted by:Jeannine Kunz, Vice President, Tooling U-SME

On Tuesday, the House Committee on Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting and Workforce heard from a panel of witnesses on apprenticeship initiatives—specifically, the Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Program. Read More.