Y-Blog

My master’s thesis dealt with job satisfaction in the workplace. At the time I wrote my thesis, I was working for a global manufacturer of aircraft parts. In the mid-1990s, I watched my employer go through massive layoffs, reducing its workforce by more than 60 percent in three years. Watching the turmoil made me aware of how important it is to consider people when dealing with shifting economics, production needs and skill gaps.There is no single best answer when evaluating your need for talent because every manufacturer’s situation, even when it appears similar, is unique. Take these situations for example. Read More

We recently surveyed members of the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE)to get a handle on the state of robotics education in America. In the course of four days, we heard back from nearly three hundred teachers, professors and administrators at universities, two-year colleges, technical schools and high schools. Here’s some of what we learned:  Sixty-two percent of those surveyed have a robotics education program in place, the remainder do not. Fifty-five percent of those with a program aim to enhance it. Read More

Part of Charles Speelman’s job is connecting students and employers. But Speelman isn’t a recruiter; he’s an educator. Three years ago, as superintendent of Tri-Rivers Career Center in Marion, Ohio, Speelman was getting calls from companies saying that there weren’t enough skilled workers entering the trades, especially manufacturing. So, Speelman (with an approximately $15-million “Straight A Grant” from Ohio) launched the Robotics & Advanced Manufacturing Technology Education Collaborative, known as RAMTEC. Students at RAMTEC get to work with and learn about the same machines and tools used by many manufacturers. Read More