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Workforce

Iron University

April 30, 2021

Alliant Castings, based in Winona, Minnesota, is a foundry manufacturing abrasion and impact resistant castings for a variety of heavy-duty industries including

MEP Centers – On the Frontlines of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

April 6, 2021

This blog is the second in a monthly series brought to you by the new America Works initiative. As a part of the MEP National Network’s goal of supporting the

America Works – An Innovative Approach to Workforce Development

March 9, 2021

This blog is the first in a monthly series brought to you by the new America Works initiative. As a part of the MEP National Network’s goal of supporting the

Pandemic Makes Plain Need for Manufacturing Workforce

February 4, 2021

In the Sept. 18, 2020, session of the “National Conversation with Manufacturers,” our three West Coast manufacturing leaders on the panel kept coming back to

COVID-19 — The Disease That Is Reshaping Manufacturing

December 9, 2020

Unless you’ve been living on private island (send invite immediately!), it’s no secret that the pandemic has changed the way manufacturers operate and run their

How Automation and AI May Help Level the Playing Field for Women in Manufacturing

July 30, 2020

Women make up about 29 percent of the manufacturing workforce despite filling 47 percent of the positions in the overall workforce, according to the

How to Host a Virtual Manufacturing Day Event

July 14, 2020

Given the limitations with public gatherings and social distancing practices prompted by the current pandemic, it’s uncertain whether manufacturers will be

A Holistic Approach to Developing a Modern Manufacturing Workforce

June 18, 2020

In line with the continuous process improvement mindset the Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership (OMEP) advocates, its Smart Talent methodology has

So Your Manufacturing Day Inspired Students...How Do You Keep the Momentum Going?

January 15, 2020

Last year’s Manufacturing Day (MFG Day) was an enormous success for U.S. manufacturers looking to engage the next generation of manufacturers. But how can you

Combatting the Skills Gap By Empowering Underrepresented Communities

June 28, 2019

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) 2019 1st Quarter Manufacturers' Outlook Survey found that 71.3% of the U.S. manufacturers surveyed cited the

How Manufacturers Value and Use Industry Credentials to Source Skilled Talent

May 3, 2019

Manufacturers may have a new ally to help them more effectively use industry credentials to qualify and hire skilled workers, in the form of a valuable report

Generation YouTube Gets Some Love (of Manufacturing)

February 12, 2019

The manufacturing industry has drastically changed in recent years, yet the public’s perception has not. Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC), part of the

5 Manufacturing Technology Trends to Watch in 2019

February 7, 2019

Steady industry growth was a trend for manufacturers in 2018. According to a recent Forbes report, U.S. manufacturing has rebounded since the Great Recession

Acting Fast to Slow Machinist Turnover

November 5, 2018

Although the company had been steadily growing and adding employees, it continued to experience high turnover, especially among entry-level employees. A.R.E

Workforce Training Improves Quality, Boosts Sales

October 24, 2018

Through a Workforce Training Grant provided by the Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MassMEP), part of the MEP National Network TM, Blount

Marine Welding Training Program Grows Skilled Workforce

September 25, 2018

Armstrong Marine manufactures custom-designed aluminum boats. Based in Port Angeles, Washington, the company has around 50 employees. Located in the north

It's Cool to Be a Manufacturing Engineering Major Again

September 6, 2018

The number of individuals earning degrees in engineering has increased steadily over the past decade, and those numbers will only continue to grow. In

Regional Food Manufacturer Invests in their People for Business Improvement

July 31, 2018

Gilster-Mary Lee worked with the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) to bring in a workforce that was capable of meeting the government and customer

Words Should Matter to Leaders

May 1, 2018

In an exchange with a colleague the other day, I shared a phrase my grandmother often used to say, “nothing’s so bad it can’t get worse.” Throughout my life, I

How One Company is Closing the Skills Gap Through a Competency-Based Apprenticeship Program

April 11, 2018

This article originally appeared on Industry Week . Guest blog post by Michael Kelleher, Executive Director of the Maryland Manufacturing Extension Partnership

Success Story: Workforce Training Boosts Sales for Growing Aerospace Business

March 14, 2018

Kennebec Technologies is a full-service, high-precision manufacturing company. With a focus on complex, high-value-added parts and assemblies, the company

Success Story: Staff Overcomes Knowledge Gap Through Workforce Training

January 5, 2018

Henke Manufacturing designs and manufactures snow plows and other attachments. With over one hundred years in the business and around 90 employees, Henke is

Recruiting Millennials for Manufacturing Careers

September 29, 2017

I was at an end of summer family barbeque the other day, and two of my nephews, 16 and 20 years old, were in attendance. As the day progressed, they spent most

A Guide to Hiring Veterans to Fill the Manufacturing Skills Gap

August 23, 2017

On the surface, the manufacturing industry’s “good news, bad news” scenario appears to lean toward the good. The 2016 Global Manufacturing Competitiveness Index

Success Story: Smart Talent Success for Growing Company

August 18, 2017

Founded in 1963, Miles Fiberglass and Composites (MFC) has over 50 years of experience in the fiberglass and composites industry. The family-owned corporation

Training Students for New Opportunities and New Lives

December 1, 2016

This article originally appeared on the Department of Commerce's blog, Commerce.gov. Guest blog post by John Killam, Director of the Massachusetts Manufacturing

VA Innovators Network Continues to Make Progress to Improve the Veteran Experience through Innovation

April 26, 2016

This article originally appeared on VAntage Point, Official Blog of the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. Guest blog post by Andrea Ippolito, VA Innovators

Building the Next Generation Manufacturers

April 5, 2016

This article originally appeared in tradeology, the official blog of ITA. Guest blog post by Dana Smith, a U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel assigned to the U.S

Workforce Tips for Manufacturers: Part Two

January 12, 2016

This blog post is part two of a two part series. In Part One of this series, we discussed the importance of providing formal skills training and having open

Workforce Tips for Manufacturers

November 12, 2015

This blog post is part one of a two part series. As a manufacturer, you don’t want workers – you want company ambassadors. Workers are individuals who show

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About this blog

Manufacturing Innovation, the blog of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), is a resource for manufacturers, industry experts and the public on key U.S. manufacturing topics. There are articles for those looking to dive into new strategies emerging in manufacturing as well as useful information on tools and opportunities for manufacturers.

The views presented here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of NIST.

If you have any questions about our blog, please contact us at mfg [at] nist.gov (mfg[at]nist[dot]gov).

Manufacturing Innovation Blog