Preparing Technicians for the Future of Work Podcast

In this episode, Todd Christensen joins Mike to talk about integrated sensors, MEMS, and how advanced digital technologies are increasing the complexity of the tools and skills required by technicians. Digitalization means technicians must be equipped with a broad range of cross-disciplinary stem skills. Todd also shares his take on the recent bill for chip manufacturing and research and how it could impact the workforce. Find out what Todd believes will be the next big thing and what advice he would offer to educators, employers, and future technicians.

In this episode, Mike interviews Jake Hall, the "Manufacturing Millennial" for a fresh perspective on the next generation of technicians. With emerging technologies in Industry 4.0, Jake shares his thoughts about how factories are transforming and what the manufacturing sector needs to do to recruit and develop young talent.

Host Mike Lesiecki interviews Jordan Morrow, the “Godfather of Data Literacy.” They discuss how technicians can become proficient in interpreting and communicating data and why these skills are more important than ever for the future of work. They examine what certification programs and pathways for data literacy and data analytics are emerging to help address the critical functions of data literacy and data analytics. Mike and Jordan explore how instructors can begin integrating data literacy and analytics into their own programs so that students are ready to work with data to diagnose and make decisions in the workplace.

Host Mike Lesiecki interviews Eric Wooldridge and learns how Eric's education and broad industry experience in engineering, architecture, and farming help him develop curricula in additive manufacturing/3D printing for Somerset's 16 college sites and satellites.Hear about innovations happening in additive manufacturing on the front-lines of education, and discover which skills in the Cross-Disciplinary Stem Core technicians will need as the demand for additive manufacturing/3D printing by various industries intensifies. You'll want to stay until the end as Mike and Eric discuss how faculty can introduce additive manufacturing into their curriculum even if they don't have direct experience with it. Hear how Somerset's Additive Manufacturing Center is training educators as Eric gives a step-by-step about how to get started, along with the valuable lessons learned along the way. Be sure to check this episode's Show Notes for additional information and tools including links to videos presented by Eric and the Advanced Manufacturing Center.

Join Mike and his guest, Justin Manley, as they take us on a seafaring exploration of the "blue economy" and the possibilities for technicians in this unique working environment. From his early days running a research lab building ocean robots at MIT to his current role on the business side, Justin brings his comprehensive take on ocean tech and the transferability of technical skills from one industry to another.

In this episode hear how one college is collaborating to innovate curriculum development. With the rapid emergence of the multi-disciplinary skills needed in technologies like the Internet of Things, learn about model strategies and how these innovators at Moraine Valley Community College are bringing out the best in their faculty to meet the needs of students and industry.

Phil Gilkes shares his extensive knowledge about the trends and transitions in the Supply Chain Automation industry. With systems like Predictive Maintenance and Overall Equipment Efficiency, Phil discusses the growing need for technicians to have a deeper understanding of effectiveness and efficiency in operating and maintaining equipment. Phil also gives insight into how education and employers are responding in order to equip technicians with the skills they'll need to succeed in the industry.

What is the number one skill that manufacturing looks for in recruiting? With emerging technologies and Industry 4.0, the landscape in manufacturing is changing every day. Despite the new corresponding skills technicians will need for career success, there are important perennial skills in the manufacturing industry. What are these skills? How will a technician integrate these cross-disciplinary skills for maximum effectiveness? Find out more in this podcast and hear how manufacturers are working with educators to develop programs for credentials and certifications for an effective talent pipeline that is ready for the future.

How are industry, education, and government working together to build a sustainable end-to-end bioindustrial manufacturing ecosystem? Why is it more important than ever and how can industry work with educational institutions to influence curriculum development so that technicians acquire the cross-disciplinary skills industry needs? Listen to our interview with Tom Tubon of BioMADE as he and Mike discuss how BioMADE is catalyzing collaboration and innovation to help develop and expand the future workforce for industrial biotechnology.

In episode 33 Mike and guest Aaron Osmond explore the cloud from an industry and workforce perspective. They discuss the need to increase the pipeline of technicians going into cloud technology and how emerging technologies are expanding the range of skills needed by technicians working in the cloud space. With the increasing demand for skilled technicians hear how companies like AWS Cloud services are partnering with higher education institutions and workforce agencies to integrate cloud education into existing programs.

In this episode we hear three different perspectives in a strategic partnership that is developing the pipeline of technicians for one of the most advanced manufacturing facilities, a semiconductor foundry. Hear about how industry partners are working with community colleges to identify skills gaps and empower educators to align and adapt existing coursework to address those skills gaps. How is this relationship empowering educators to have their finger on the pulse of industry demands so they can respond swiftly to the ever-expanding portfolio of cross-disciplinary skills a technician will need?

In this episode, Mike talks with Drew Garretson, Director of Digital Experience for Ceres Solutions. Drew shares about Industry 4.0 in agriculture and the diverse skills and expertise of technicians and farmers that are impacting agriculture in the digital age.

In this episode, Mike talks with Carl Benttine, a Senior Electronics Technician at Hormel Foods. Carl shares his educational and workforce journey, in which he gained a variety of electromechanical, programming and troubleshooting skills that have led to a long career.

In this interview with Curt Yoose, an Agriculture instructor at Ridgewater College in Willmar, Minnesota, he discusses agricultural technology and education programs. He defines the field as “using technology to make producers, growers, farmers more productive, more efficient, and lessen their impact on the environment, using technology to do those things.” He explained that there are two types of technical applications in agriculture—one dealing with software and data components and another with hardware and electrical components. Not surprisingly, he says the skill in most demand is troubleshooting, requiring both soft skills and technical skills.

Before Jennifer Oddo became Executive Director of the Division of Workforce Education and Innovation at Youngstown State University, she spent a significant amount of time at IBM, where she helped them create their competency-based IT apprenticeship program, focused on “new-collar” jobs. "Many know apprenticeships in the trades and construction industry and they've had a lot of success in those areas. But what many don't realize is that IBM, along with other companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Bosch, T-Mobile, and other organizations have really dusted off this program to reinvent them in the IT world… taking that competency-based approach…We also recognize that many of our academic institutions, frankly, can't keep up with the pace of change and the pace of skill changes that are happening in the industry."

Before Jennifer Oddo became Executive Director of the Division of Workforce Education and Innovation at Youngstown State University, she spent a significant amount of time at IBM, where she helped them create their competency-based IT apprenticeship program, focused on “new-collar” jobs. "Many know apprenticeships in the trades and construction industry and they've had a lot of success in those areas. But what many don't realize is that IBM, along with other companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Bosch, T-Mobile, and other organizations have really dusted off this program to reinvent them in the IT world… taking that competency-based approach…We also recognize that many of our academic institutions, frankly, can't keep up with the pace of change and the pace of skill changes that are happening in the industry."

Rich Little, a welding engineer at United Launch Alliance, the space vehicle manufacturing company that manufactured the Atlas Delta and Vulcan Centaur launch vehicles, says that incoming welders will need preparation in the basics, including shield metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding. He adds that on top of that, it would be great for them: "to learn some computers, electrical, systems, robotics—and start to understand that not all welding today is shield metal arc welding anymore, and these systems get very complicated. So, it almost becomes an engineering level of understanding on many systems [and that] if a technician is trying to go into aerospace  or really any manufacturing discipline that there is, whether that be automotive, or shipbuilding… having a knowledge of cycle times and manufacturing efficiency is important."

Rich Little, a welding engineer at United Launch Alliance, the space vehicle manufacturing company that manufactured the Atlas Delta and Vulcan Centaur launch vehicles, says that incoming welders will need preparation in the basics, including shield metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding. He adds that on top of that, it would be great for them: "to learn some computers, electrical, systems, robotics—and start to understand that not all welding today is shield metal arc welding anymore, and these systems get very complicated. So, it almost becomes an engineering level of understanding on many systems [and that] if a technician is trying to go into aerospace  or really any manufacturing discipline that there is, whether that be automotive, or shipbuilding… having a knowledge of cycle times and manufacturing efficiency is important."

Dr. Linda Molnar is a scientist and entrepreneur with more than 20 years' experience in the life sciences and chemical industries. She's integrated her scientific research and engineering background with commercialization for startups and international government and business environments. Currently, Dr. Molnar is a National Science Foundation Program Director involved with a very new program called the Convergence Accelerator.

Dr. Linda Molnar is a scientist and entrepreneur with more than 20 years’ experience in the life sciences and chemical industries. She's integrated her scientific research and engineering background with commercialization for startups and international government and business environments. Currently, Dr. Molnar is a National Science Foundation Program Director involved with a very new program called the Convergence Accelerator.

It's a great time to start focusing on robotics and automation, says Chief Workforce Officer of the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute, Lisa Masciantonio, because it will provide a lifelong learning journey with continuing opportunities for career evolution. Robotics and automation technologies and changing and expanding rapidly and that means that manufacturers need a workforce that can keep pace with the changes. Masciantonio sees a large skills gap that her Institute is addressing with new competency models, program audits and endorsements. In the podcast, she describes three levels of robotics technicians: "We've created, with our experts across our ecosystem, a competency framework, focused on the Industry 4.0 robotic career pathways, where you look at the competencies at the robotic technician level. Those are the fundamental skills. Things like mechanical systems, maintenance and troubleshooting, electronics and controls, electrical systems, safety, robot programming, fluid power, PLC. As they become more experienced, and they get more on-the-job training, they would become more specialized. They'd move into an advanced Industry 4.0 Specialist role. Then a big gap in the manufacturing workforce is at the Robotic Integrator level. What we're learning that the manufacturers themselves are actually in need of very experienced people to focus on the internal workings of using that automated equipment or that robot. And they would be focused on really key, more applied technologies like augmented reality or virtual reality, simulations, offline programming——making sure that the systems are interoperable across the manufacturing floor."

It's a great time to start focusing on robotics and automation, says Chief Workforce Officer of the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute, Lisa Masciantonio, because it will provide a lifelong learning journey with continuing opportunities for career evolution. Robotics and automation technologies and changing and expanding rapidly and that means that manufacturers need a workforce that can keep pace with the changes. Masciantonio sees a large skills gap that her Institute is addressing with new competency models, program audits and endorsements. In the podcast, she describes three levels of robotics technicians: "We've created, with our experts across our ecosystem, a competency framework, focused on the Industry 4.0 robotic career pathways, where you look at the competencies at the robotic technician level. Those are the fundamental skills. Things like mechanical systems, maintenance and troubleshooting, electronics and controls, electrical systems, safety, robot programming, fluid power, PLC. As they become more experienced, and they get more on-the-job training, they would become more specialized. They'd move into an advanced Industry 4.0 Specialist role. Then a big gap in the manufacturing workforce is at the Robotic Integrator level. What we're learning that the manufacturers themselves are actually in need of very experienced people to focus on the internal workings of using that automated equipment or that robot. And they would be focused on really key, more applied technologies like augmented reality or virtual reality, simulations, offline programming——making sure that the systems are interoperable across the manufacturing floor."

Sarah Boisvert has put her 30+ years of experience in the design, development, and commercialization of high technology products, digital fabrication, laser machining and 3D printing to excellent use as the founder and CEO of the Fab Lab Hub, the Co-founder of the New Collar Network, and the author of the book, The New Collar Workforce. In this episode, she shares what her research has revealed employers – particularly in manufacturing – are looking for and the new ways that operators and technicians can demonstrate skills competency. "On the technical side, one of the most prevalent skills that people were looking for was digital skills. Today, if you’re running a welding machine, you also have to be able to look at a CAD design and determine what the parameters are."

In 2020, Intel and the Maricopa Community College District issued a joint press releases announcing their partnership to launch the first associate degree program in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. Carlos Contreras with Intel notes a sense of urgency around this technology because of the speed at which it is being adopted by a wide variety of industry sectors. Partnerships between educational institutions and industry provide a collaborative model that is custom-built to address the speed of the transition in the region. Working together, the colleges and Intel hope to bring the U.S. workforce up to the AI skill level of countries such as South Korea, India, Singapore. In this episode, Bassam Matar from Chandler Gilbert Community College describes the design and roll-out of their AAS degree and certificate program, both of which have no prerequisites for entry and are designed to expand digital readiness for the future of work. Ultimately, says Contreras, as a company, Intel's goal "by 2030 is to reach 30 countries, 30,000 institutions and get 30 million students skilled in artificial intelligence."

In 2020, Intel and the Maricopa Community College District issued a joint press releases announcing their partnership to launch the first associate degree program in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. Carlos Contreras with Intel notes a sense of urgency around this technology because of the speed at which it is being adopted by a wide variety of industry sectors. Partnerships between educational institutions and industry provide a collaborative model that is custom-built to address the speed of the transition in the region. Working together, the colleges and Intel hope to bring the U.S. workforce up to the AI skill level of countries such as South Korea, India, Singapore. In this episode, Bassam Matar from Chandler Gilbert Community College describes the design and roll-out of their AAS degree and certificate program, both of which have no prerequisites for entry and are designed to expand digital readiness for the future of work. Ultimately, says Contreras, as a company, Intel's goal "by 2030 is to reach 30 countries, 30,000 institutions and get 30 million students skilled in artificial intelligence."

Over the last decade, collaborative robot technology has really gained traction in the automation market. Collaborative robots (cobots) can safely operate in close proximity to skilled human operators and are very easy to deploy and use, explains Joe Campbell of Universal Robots. Cobot programming is very simple in contrast to traditional robots so technicians can learn the fundamentals within a few hours through UR's online academy. This accessibility conveys an added benefit—it helps combat the perception that manufacturing is dull, dirty, and dangerous, a misconception that steers younger technicians away from the field. And for incumbent workers, deploying cobots may mean moving a technician into a higher-value assignment.

Over the last decade, collaborative robot technology has really gained traction in the automation market. Collaborative robots (cobots) can safely operate in close proximity to skilled human operators and are very easy to deploy and use, explains Joe Campbell of Universal Robots. Cobot programming is very simple in contrast to traditional robots so technicians can learn the fundamentals within a few hours through UR’s online academy. This accessibility conveys an added benefit—it helps combat the perception that manufacturing is dull, dirty, and dangerous, a misconception that steers younger technicians away from the field. And for incumbent workers, deploying cobots may mean moving a technician into a higher-value assignment.

Dave Vasko, Director of Advanced Technologies at Rockwell Automation, describes how the increasing sophistication and capabilities of technologies coming to the manufacturing floor — technologies such as AI and the anticipated hybridization of large-scale robots with slower more independent cobots – are creating a lot of complexity for the technician. Going forward, he says, technicians will require different skills: the ability to configure networks and firewalls, to operate equipment remotely and collaboratively, and to troubleshoot the initial commissioning of equipment using digital twins with virtual reality, just to name a few. The approach to programming is changing as well, from writing code from scratch to starting with a library of possible code that can be applied and then debugged at the machine. This convergence of OT with IT means that it is, as Vasko notes, an exciting time to be in manufacturing.

Dave Vasko, Director of Advanced Technologies at Rockwell Automation, describes how the increasing sophistication and capabilities of technologies coming to the manufacturing floor — technologies such as AI and the anticipated hybridization of large-scale robots with slower more independent cobots – are creating a lot of complexity for the technician. Going forward, he says, technicians will require different skills: the ability to configure networks and firewalls, to operate equipment remotely and collaboratively, and to troubleshoot the initial commissioning of equipment using digital twins with virtual reality, just to name a few. The approach to programming is changing as well, from writing code from scratch to starting with a library of possible code that can be applied and then debugged at the machine. This convergence of OT with IT means that it is, as Vasko notes, an exciting time to be in manufacturing.

Having been part of a company that distributes, rebuilds and services machine tool for nearly 40 years, Terry Iverson has seen many changes in CNC and in manufacturing overall. In this episode, he shares his perspectives on the factors driving CNC manufacturing today——global competitiveness, reshoring, and the need for younger employees; explains the unique characteristics of the four types of control systems; and describes the impact of emerging technologies. Where is industry going next with additive manufacturing and cobots? And what impact will this have on the education of entry-level technicians?

Having been part of a company that distributes, rebuilds and services machine tool for nearly 40 years, Terry Iverson has seen many changes in CNC and in manufacturing overall. In this episode, he shares his perspectives on the factors driving CNC manufacturing today——global competitiveness, reshoring, and the need for younger employees; explains the unique characteristics of the four types of control systems; and describes the impact of emerging technologies. Where is industry going next with additive manufacturing and cobots? And what impact will this have on the education of entry-level technicians?