在Part 1 of this additive manufacturing skill gap feature, we shared insight on how manufacturers can find and develop talent to meet immediate AM labor needs. Part 2 takes a deeper look at long-term workforce development.
Long-term AM Workforce Development
There are many theories surrounding long-term work force development, but very few people who can speak to the real-world practices they’ve implemented to bridge the skill gap in their own organization.
克里斯·乔斯特（Chris Joest）Imperial Machine & Tool Co., is one such individual who can.
发展长期人才是一种不断发展的艺术，但其核心依赖于将下一代带入制造业世界。吸引学生并为他们提供参与的机会。
As the 3rd generation leader of a 73 year-old advanced manufacturing company – with two SLM metal additive manufacturing systems and 40+ multi-axis CNC machining centers – Joest knows the importance of long-term workforce development.
We’ve been around over seven decades and it’s my sincere hope to be around for at least seven more. Workforce development is central to realizing that vision.
Nurturing Curiosity
The manufacturing industry has seen a decline in the number of students pursuing “traditional” manufacturing careers, but Joest says metal AM is helping to change that; he’s seen first-hand what happens when students are introduced to the technology for the first time.
The next generation is fascinated by 3D printing technology. We often have local schools reach out and ask if their students can tour our facility and see our metal additive systems; I’m not exaggerating when I say the kids are captivated. They crowd around the small glass window in awe of the laser sintering process, which is quite elegant to watch.
乔斯特（Joest）扩展了另一个最近的经历。
We had a group of students visit our facility for a video project they were working on; it was for the ‘What’s So Cool about Manufacturing?’ competition. They thought the shop floor was mildly interesting, but when they reached the metal AM department everything changed.
Their eyes lit up as we showed them objects created through the selective laser melting process.
我们喜欢给孩子们留下的小部分。对于这次访问，这是一个不锈钢行星齿轮集。您会认为我们给了他们魔杖。他们站在那儿看着这种坚固的金属轴承自由旋转，与这个小轴承打印在没有组装的一件件中。
他们不在手机上，他们认为这是书呆子或肮脏的……他们觉得这很有趣。它给我带来了美国制造业未来的巨大希望。
American Manufacturing Renaissance
乔斯特（Joest）提请注意一般的长期劳动力发展的重要一点：克服“ AM技能差距”的策略是解决美国传统制造业面临的问题所需的相同策略。
我承认，多年来，美国制造业受到了打击。我们已经看到很多工作迁移到海外，而年轻人则进入该行业。但这还不是故事的结局。
I’m confident American manufacturing will make a comeback but not by lamenting jobs that are already gone. The resurgence will come from embracing innovation and exploring new opportunities… as individuals, and as a country. I believe additive manufacturing is the opportunity many folks have been waiting for and will play a primary role in美国制造业的下一章.
明亮的年轻人的力量
We still produce some of the brightest minds in the world and opportunities abound for those willing to seize them. It’s important that students understand the titanic shift in manufacturing that’s occurring, and what metal AM represents. Students have a chance to get in on the ground floor of an industry poised to see explosive growth. We really are in the right place at the right time in history to make an impact.
看未来
当被问及他会与年轻企业家分享什么建议时，Joest提供了这一点。
Success in manufacturing is more than just buying machines, it takes a commitment to learn. To analyze and change the way things are done. Not everyone is comfortable with that, but for those with an entrepreneurial spirit, it’s an exciting challenge.
乔斯特笑了，并提出了最后的想法。
Growing up my grandfather would tell me stories about the early days of Imperial. In the 1950s and 60s we were involved in precision jig boring. It was work very few shops were capable of.
It required specialized equipment, but my grandfather was always careful to remind me ‘It’s not the machines, it’s the people.
I think the same sentiment applies to metal AM. As an industry, I hope we never lose sight of that.
Part 1 of this feature on the additive manufacturing skills gap can be readhere.If you’d like to share insights into the additive manufacturing industry, thenget in contact.
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Featured image shows A metal AM technician removing powder with a non-reactive vacuum and getting ready for RAPID 2017. Photo via Imperial Machine and Tool Co.
