The Role of Metallurgy in Today’s Society.
The curriculum of the CNC program covers the basics of CNC machining, including an intro to G codes and M codes as well as milling and lathe operations. One of the most exciting parts of the class, its teachers say, is that it provides students with the opportunity to apply classroom math in a real-world situation.
“You can trick kids into it,” Schindel said. “They don’t even know they’re doing it. They’re accomplishing a task—not going to math class. They’re making a part.”
Schindel and Ben Warning, the program’s other technology engineering instructor, say the overall goal of the school’s tech ed classes isn’t to turn students into professional welders, master machinists, or experts in construction, but rather provide students with a broad basis of knowledge to help them find a career they can be passionate about.
The backbone of the nation’s economy is nearing a time of crisis. The manufacturing industry faces the perfect storm of pressures, as a burgeoning economy is coupled with low unemployment and a large sector of the population on the cusp of retirement. In fact, some analysts predict 2 million manufacturing industry jobs will go unfilled in the U.S. by 2025. That large number underscores a trend known as the “skills gap,” which has been widening in the years since the recession. Businesses across the country face difficulties filling open positions because there aren’t enough qualified applicants.
The situation in Wisconsin mirrors the country as a whole. Its worker shortage across all industries is driven by two primary factors: historically low unemployment and baby boomers aging out of the workforce. The Badger State saw record low unemployment at 2.8% earlier this year, while the fastest growing part of its population was age 65 and over. It’s created a hiring climate that’s requiring employers to get creative and move past your average job fair.
