Prioritizing actions and outcomes for community-based future manufacturing workforce development and education

Abstract

Rapid innovations in manufacturing process technology, information technology, and systems technology have led to simultaneous concerns about labor displacements and skills shortages. To address these concerns, the key challenges for educating and training the current and future workforce should be identified and the specific activities leading to the design of new manufacturing career pathways should be defined. Thus, the objective of this article is to define and prioritize the necessary activities and short- to long-term outcomes that will aid in developing high-skill career pathways that will positively impact children and families, students and teachers, and future workers. Expert perspectives from industry and academia have been analysed through two lenses: education (primary/secondary, technical, and university levels) and policy/innovation. The nominal group technique (NGT) is applied in this research to capture these perspectives, which enabled the generation of ideas followed by discussion and ranking by the experts. This approach encourages participation and avoids the associated drawbacks of typical group interactions. As a result, prioritized activities, short-term outcomes, and policy ideas to introduce children and families, students and teachers, and future workers to careers in advanced manufacturing are presented for each lens of focus. In addition, inputs from experts were captured to discuss desired medium- to long-term outcomes. In conclusion, this article summarizes the key findings from the study.

Bridging the skills gap divide in manufacturing: perspectives from industry leaders

“…However, in recent years, the industry has been experiencing significant declines in the overall performance and workforce size (Houseman, 2018; Rose, 2021). The rapid advancements in manufacturing process technology and information technology have given rise to concerns regarding labor displacement and shortages shortage of highly skilled workers in manufacturing (Haapala et al , 2022). This review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the current state of the US manufacturing sector, emphasizing the scarcity in the manufacturing workforce and the persistent challenge posed by the skills gap within it.…”

“…Weaver and Osterman’s comprehensive analysis in the manufacturing sector highlights a prevalent mismatch between the skillsets of individuals and the qualifications required for various job roles. This discordance underscores the necessity for multifaceted strategies to not only attract and retain skilled personnel but also prioritize education and training programs aimed at nurturing a high-skill workforce, as articulated by recent studies (Haapala et al , 2022). Mirroring national trends, the skills gap identified by the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) has become a critical concern, impacting crucial sectors like manufacturing, health care and technology, thereby impeding individual career growth and overall organizational potential within the state (Illinois Department of Employment Security, 2020).…”

“…Weaver and Osterman’s (2017) seminal research emphasizes the urgent need for workforce realignment to mitigate this mismatch, suggesting immediate interventions to bridge the gap between skills and job specifications. Moreover, a recent study by Haapala et al (2022) emphasizes the significance of tailored educational and training initiatives specifically crafted to tackle the considerable skills gap pervasive in Illinois’ employment landscape.…”