Training the Next Generation: Future Workforce Canada

Core Powered, Peel School District and PMPA collaborated to sponsor a “Future of Manufacturing Technology and Talent” event for ninth to 12th grade students at the Hansen School of Technology in Mississauga, Ontario.

Charles Ruecker, president of Core Powered, picked his collaborators to help realize his vision of bringing manufacturing to local high school students so they could see the career opportunities available for them in precision machining.

Students engaged in active discussions with knowledgeable experts covering the future of making things, facts on manufacturing careers in the Halton-Peel region, impact of additive technologies on manufacturing, the art and science of centerless grinding for highest precision and breaking the mold to create our future workforce. Rather than rely on PowerPoint presentations, these sessions engaged students with knowledgeable and expert presenters in wide-ranging conversations that shared the love of craft, as well as the facts of the process. In addition to discussions, videos, demonstrations and problem solving, the activities helped attendees get a more complete picture of the mental side of careers in manufacturing.

After discussing issues related to the widening skills gap, low labor participation rate and the effects of the baby boomers leaving the workforce, students gained an understanding of both the opportunities awaiting them and the need to develop themselves for the continuation of the industry.

While students were given a vision of a career in precision machining, they also left with specific information on how to chart their career in the industry. Coursework, credentials, employers, educational institutions and other topics were covered in the materials that were provided to all students to help them better understand their options.

Educators, too, left with a better understanding of the attractive careers available for their students. They now have a better understanding of what they need to succeed in the rapidly transforming world of precision machining and manufacturing. Supplemental materials were provided so they can continue the conversation in the classroom and provide career options to students that might otherwise have been overlooked.

Precision machining is an important part of almost every technology in our lives today. Thanks to the leadership of Core Powered and the collaboration of Peel School District and PMPA, students and teachers now have a much richer understanding of the value of our industry. Thanks to the presenters, they understand in more detail the potential value they can add and find in a career in precision machining.

We need to help the next generation of talent fi nd that they have not only career options, but also a chance to touch the future through their impact in our industry. The products that we create make a difference in people’s lives. The talent these students can bring to our shops is needed to help us make those products. What have you done to help students in your area learn and take control of options toward positioning themselves for success and attaining a rewarding career? Core Powered, Peel Schools and PMPA hosted a great session for future manufacturers. You, too, can impact the attitudes and thinking of our youth toward the future success of manufacturing with careers in precision machining.