Yes, Academia, There Really is a Skills Gap!

While politicians butt heads in Washington, it's important to remember that manufacturers are focused on keeping the economy moving, by running our businesses as best we can and addressing challenges to this growth such as the industry's skills shortage.

A couple of recent stories in the media highlight how seriously we at NTMA and our members around the country take these issues.  Matt Tyler of Vickers Engineering in New Troy, MI, appeared on CNBC to talk about the growth prospects for manufacturing in spite of the Washington political gamesmanship we're all enduring these days.  You can link to Matt's appearance here

Also, NTMA continues to stay focused on how to address the skills gap that is creating difficulty for manufacturers all around the country who seek qualified workers to fill high-skilled positions.  Recently in the media, a number of stories have been circulating suggesting that the skills gap does not really exist and that the problem instead relates to companies not paying enough to potential workers.

NTMA has been working hard to fight this misperception, put forward by academics like Peter Capelli at the Wharton School of Business.  As you can see in this story from a paper in Portland, Maine, the media is giving this narrative some attention -- and NTMA is fighting back.  We are reaching out to journalists to provide a more balanced view, and actively pushing for fresh stories that more fairly represent this issue.

There is a great deal of education to be done on this front both in Congress and in the media, but we think it's a fight worth having!

Plans Set for 2013 National Robotics League Championship

Mark your calendars for May 17-19, 2013, when one of the most innovative and fun annual events that NTMA supports -- the National Robotics League (NRL) finals -- takes place in Indianapolis.

The NRL allows middle school, high school and post-secondary school students to partner with NTMA member companies in their communities in order to build sophisticated, high-tech robots that do battle with one another inside a ring.  The competition stirs intense excitement among student competitors from across the country, who get the chance to apply their math skills to something that produces a tangible result.  In the bargain, they come to see manufacturing in an entirely different light.

NTMA founded the NRL to address two central challenges that U.S. manufacturing has been facing for years. The first involves the need to fill positions with workers that have the increasingly rare technical skills so many of our members are seeking. And the second is all about overcoming myths to reveal the reality that manufacturing is high-tech, exciting, financially rewarding ... and growing!

Past NRL competitions have been increasingly well attended, with students competing from all over the country.  This year, the competition is timed to closely coincide with the upcoming NTMA Purchasing Fair on May 16-17 at the JW Marriott Indianapolis.  So if you're already in the area, plan to come by to show your support for the students and for our industry!

If you want to stay in the loop about activities related to the NRL, you can click here to sign up for the monthly NRL newsletter to get updates on the competition (and, we promise, nothing else!).

Below: action shot from a past competition:

Congratulations to Jeff Kelly, Recipient of NTMA's L.A. Sommer Memorial Award

Our fall conference in Nashville produced a number of great discussions and good opportunities to network and learn more about our industry.  It also allowed us to recognize some of our members for what they have achieved professionally over the years.

Jeff Kelly, owner of Trafford, PA-based Hamill Manufacturing, was recognized with NTMA's most prestigious award: the "L.A. Sommer Memorial Award", which is given to members for their exceptional service, dedication and leadership in the industry.

Jeff is a former National Chairman of NTMA and member of the Executive Team.  He has been a leader on one of our industry's most pressing issues -- the need to find skilled workers to take on positions in our increasingly sophisticated industry.  Jeff launched an effort under the NTMA Government Affairs and Education Teams to seek multi-year federal funding for the development of recruiting and training centers in select NTMA chapter areas.  Initially names PJAM, for "Precision Jobs for American Manufacturing", the program later became known as AMPED, "Advanced Manufacturing Practices and Educational Development."

Jeff also stepped in when our association needed him most, serving as Interim CEO of NTMA for 3 years beginning in 2005 following the resignation of NTMA's president.  Jeff committed himself to making sure that our association had the leadership in place that it needed during this time, implementing numerous streamlining and cost saving initiatives while leading the search for a new association president.  Jeff currently servces on our Board of Trustees and on the NTMA Insurance and NTMF Boards.

The members of NTMA owe a great deal to Jeff for his commitment to both our association and our industry as a whole.  We are better off for his contributions, and our heartfelt gratitude goes out to Jeff in appreciation for all that he has accomplished.  Congratulations, Jeff!

Western Massachusetts Chapter of NTMA holds 6th Annual Celebration

Congrats to the Western Massachusetts chapter of the National Tooling and Machining Association for holding its sixth annual celebration at Peerless Precision in Westfield, MA.  The event focused on highlighting the shortage of skilled workers in manufacturing and attracting young, talented workers to our indsutry.  A recent study showed that there are more than 600,000 manufacturing jobs that are going unfilled because of the lack of skilled workers.  The event made the local news.  See video below that includes an interview with Peerless Precision Co-Owner Debbie Maier:

Machining industry looking to hire

NTMA Member Strohwig Industries Featured in Media Story on Skilled Worker shortage

Thank you Strohwig Industries for keeping the issue of a shortage of skilled workers in the media.  Strohwigh was featured in the Wisconsin media in a story titled "State manufacturers have jobs, need workers," published on WisconsinWatch.org and reprinted in several publications.

The story features quotes by Stohwig Controller and NTMA Milwaukeee Chapter head Mike Retzer who discussed BOTS IQ Wisconsin, an innovative competition for high school kids who build and design robots in partnership with manufacturers.

The story begins: "Last year, 47 hourly workers at Strohwig Industries took home more than $100,000." 

The reporter quotes Mike:

"They’re not dirty smoke-stack industries that everybody thinks is manufacturing....And they’re not the mundane, routine jobs. They’re mentally challenging and they’re very fulfilling from the mental and from the career and earnings part.”

And here's chart that shows the recent comback of manufacturing jobs in Wisconsin

Way to go Mike and Strohwig Industries!

Congrats to Joe Kelly, Winner of the NTMA Pittsburgh Chapter Apprentice Competition

Congratulations to Joe Kelly, Apprentice Machinist at Stellar Precision Components in Jeannette, PA.  Joe won first place in the 2012 National Tooling and Machining Association Pittsburgh Chapter Apprentice Competition at New Century Careers Training Innovation Center.  Joe was featured in the Newsmaker section of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

NTMA is undertaking a number of initiatives to recruit and train the next generation of skilled manufacturing workers.  To learn more about these programs, visit our Workforce Development page on the NTMA website.

NTMA Members Featured in Bloomberg Story on Skilled Worker Needs

NTMA continues to take the lead on raising the issue of the problem of workforce development in manufacturing.  NTMA members Paul Bonin, President of Bertrand Products, and Kevin Ahaus, President of Ahaus Tool and Engineering , were featured yesterday in a Bloomberg Story on the inability of manufacturers to find skilled workers and declared that this issue "is holding back manufacturing, the industry that led the U.S. out of the worst recession since the 1930s."  The interview was conducted during the One Voice Legislative Conference last week.

ROBOTS TO INVADE INDIANAPOLIS THIS WEEKEND

Two days away from the start of NTMA's National Robotics Championship.  We are pleased that 22 teams with more than 30 robots from across the country will be battling it out -- and learning skills that are needed by our member companies!  Latest Press release here and below.

For Immediate Release                                         Contact: Caitlin Andrews

May 2, 2012                                                                         202-828-7637

                                                                                               caitlin.andrews@bgllp.com

ROBOTS TO INVADE INDIANAPOLIS THIS WEEKEND:

22 TEAMS VIE FOR

2012 NATIONAL ROBOTICS LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE

NTMA Sponsored League Helps Students

Learn Skills Needed for Careers in Manufacturing

Independence, OH: Twenty-two teams from as far away as Arizona and Florida will bring robots ready to do battle to the 2012 National Robotics League (NRL) Championships at the Circle Centre Mall in Indianapolis on May 5-6, 2012, the National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA) announced today.  NTMA created the NRL, a robot combat competition, to introduce a new generation of Americans to manufacturing.

The following schools have currently qualified for the 2012 NRL Championships:

•           Bloomsburg Area High School – Bloomsburg , PA

•        Blue Ridge High School – Lakeside, AZ

•        Cambridge Springs High School – Cambridge Springs, PA

•        Centerville High School – Centerville, OH

•        Conneaut Lake High School – Conneaut Lake, PA

•        Dunwoody College of Technology – Minneapolis, MN

•        Highlands High School – Natrona Heights, PA

•        Milford High School – Milford, OH

•        Mooresville High School - Mooresville, IN

•        North St. Paul High School – Maplewood, MN

•        Plum Senior High School – Plum, PA

•        Propel Braddock Hills High School – Pittsburgh, PA

•        Prosser Career Education Center – New Albany, IN

•        Slinger High School – Slinger, WI

•        Springboro High School – Springboro, OH

•        The Pennsylvania State University-University Park – University Park, PA

•        University of South Florida – Tampa, FL

•        Upper Valley Career Center – Piqua, OH

•        West Geauga High School, Chesterland, OH

•            Winchester High School, Winchester, MA

•            Wright State University – Dayton, OH

•        Wright State University – Lake Campus – Celina, OH

Clashes begin Saturday, May 5 with preliminary rounds followed by quarterfinals, semi-finals and final rounds that will take place through Sunday, May 6.  Circle Centre Mall is located at 49 West Maryland St. in Indianapolis.

NTMA founded the NRL to help change misperceptions about manufacturing and attract a new generation of students to well-paying technical careers.  The program partners teams of middle school, high school, and post-secondary school students with local NTMA manufacturers to build robots designed to do battle.  The result is not only a destruction-driven face-off of incredible machines, but also an opportunity to develop high-tech skills and cultivate the interest of a new generation of students who will determine the future of manufacturing

Media can register for the event by contacting Caitlin Andrews at 202-828-7637 or caitlin.andrews@bgllp.com.

For additional information about the NRL, visit www.gonrl.org.  For additional information on NTMA, visit www.ntma.org.

Robots Are Ready to Rumble: Next Week's NTMA National Robotics Championship

More than 20 high school teams armed with 30 robots have signed up for NTMA's National Robotics League (NRL) championships scheduled to take place in Indianapolis, IN on May 4-4.  NTMA created this program to get kids interested in manufacturing.   NRL partners NTMA member companies with local schools to encourage students to develop high-tech skills and cultivate an interest in manufacturing by the next generation in our country who will determine the future of our industry.  Learn more about the competition at http://www.gonrl.org/.  Read our latest press release here.  And DEFINITELY check out the video to see true robot carnage!

NTMA Members Featured in USA Today

NTMA member and former Chairman Ron Overton, President of Overton Industries in Mooresville, Indiiana and NTMA President Dave Tilstone are featured today in a USA Today story on the challenges that manufacturers' are facing in finding skilled workers.  NTMA has been a leader on this issue, bringing this problem to the attention of policymakers and the national media.  Read thes story here.

NTMA Member Keeps Skilled Workforce Issue in the News

Congratulations to NTMA member Dieter Weissenriider of Weiss-Aug, Inc in East Hanover, NJ for his recent letter to the editor published in the Daily Record.  Dieter writes that the skills shortage needs to be addressed by the industry refocusing on apprenticeships, the government supporting apprenticeships through tax breaks and/or grants, academic institutions providing students with appropriate math, science and other tools needed for manufacturing jobs and companies and government helping students with tuition-free opportunites to pursue engineering degrees.  Read Dieter's letter here.