LIFT, NIMS and Ivy Tech Combine Efforts to Address the High-Tech Industrial Technology Maintenance Skills Gap
Public-private partnership will align education and job training to 21st century technologies driving manufacturing growth and competitiveness
The National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS), Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow (LIFT) – one of the new national manufacturing innovation institutes — and Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) are partnering to enhance and expand training to fill the largest number of open manufacturing jobs in states along the auto corridor. The partners will prepare a new industrial technology maintenance workforce, which drives the performance and improvement of high-tech manufacturing and accounts for 60% of job growth from 2011 to 2014 in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee.
“Manufacturing enterprises—especially those serving the defense and transportation sectors —continue to embrace new light weight metals and technologies, adding advanced technical requirements to critical jobs already going unfilled because workers do not have the required skills,” said Larry Brown, executive director, LIFT. “This is an unprecedented partnership among our new manufacturing innovation institute, a national credentialing body and a premier statewide community college system collaborating to address the workforce needs of our industry partners and their supply chains.”
There are currently 38,727 industrial technology maintenance jobs posted in the region. These jobs entail the maintenance, troubleshooting and improvement of complex machines and automation systems that create efficient and productive manufacturing. To support the rapid deployment of new light weighting technologies being developed at LIFT, workers will have to understand and be confident in using the latest advanced technologies, help integrate them into companies’ processes and maintain their performance over time.
The initiative will focus on building high-quality training programs by:
• Rolling out the first-ever industry standards for educating and training the industrial technology maintenance workforce;
• Training instructors from community colleges across the entire region; and
• Equipping a competent workforce with the knowledge, skills and credentials they need to enter into and advance in the field.
In partnership with Ivy Tech, NIMS worked with over 125 industry, education and workforce development experts to develop the industry standards for the training programs and the credentials that will prepare industrial technology mechanics and technicians. Ivy Tech will launch a new instructor training facility to prepare 50 instructors to deliver the training, and NIMS will bring to market credentials that certify individuals’ skills by Fall of 2016.
“While employers are facing a real-time skills gap, job vacancies and competitive wages—which can average up to $25.00/hour—mean that opportunities abound for motivated people looking to secure good jobs in a growing, technology-driven field,” said NIMS executive director, Jim Wall.
“As the first national instructor training facility for this field, Ivy Tech’s goal is to lay a solid foundation and become a beacon for other training programs responding to the demand,” said Thomas J. Snyder, president, Ivy Tech Community College. “We have a responsibility to the communities we serve to build a first-rate workforce pipeline that has access to the most high-quality and economically relevant training and credentials.”
Click HERE to view/download the Special Report
Fact Sheet: Building the 21st Century Industrial Technology Maintenance Workforce along the I-75 Corridor
Preparing students and workers for high-tech jobs that include maintaining, troubleshooting and improving complex machines and industrial automation systems
Background
- Today’s manufacturing enterprises demand a highly skilled Industrial Technology Maintenance workforce to support business processes and operational improvements that occur through new technologies that focus on automation, light weighting, and plant productivity and efficiency.
- As companies look to infuse new technologies, they are confronting and will continue to confront increasing pressures to hire highly skilled Industrial Maintenance talent that are confident in using the latest technologies.
- These pressures are particularly strong for manufacturers in the automotive, aviation/aerospace, rail, ship, and heavy truck industries as light weighting technologies are infused into the defense and commercial transportation sectors.
- The demand for Industrial Technology Maintenance talent is particularly strong along the I-75 corridor from Michigan to Tennessee, which contains a high concentration of metals producers and users and a broad range of industrial companies from large OEMs and suppliers to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the defense, aerospace, and automotive sectors.
- The talent demand for highly-skilled industrial maintenance workers continues to grow in this region. Job postings for workers with these skills have climbed 60% within the LIFT region between 2011 and 2014. The future demand for talented industrial technology maintenance workers will remain strong as companies continue to advance their manufacturing
- As the public and private sectors focus on filling these technologically-advanced jobs, it is critical that the new Industrial Maintenance workforce is educated and trained to national industry standards.
Taking Action
- To respond to this significant workforce need, the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS), the authority on quality skills standards and credentials for manufacturing and related industries, and Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow (LIFT), are partnering to build a high quality Industrial Maintenance workforce by expanding industry-based certifications and training programs across the region.
- As a first order of business, NIMS worked with Ivy Tech Community College of the State of Indiana and over 125 industry, education and workforce development leaders to create the first in a series of industry recognized Industrial Maintenance skills and competency standards.
- These national standards will be used by educators and industry leadership to enhance training programs, and in partnership with LIFT and Ivy Tech, NIMS will use the standards to develop and bring to market industry credentials that certify these skills and competencies.
- Individuals will be able to earn these credentials to qualify and be prepared for good-paying technology-driven jobs in Industrial Maintenance.
- The initial rollout of the Industrial Maintenance skill standards and credentials will occur across a five state region including Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. NIMS will then rollout the standards and credentials nationally.
Key Facts/Statistics
- Industrial Technology Maintenance is made up of high-tech jobs that include maintaining, troubleshooting and improving complex machines and industrial systems, such as conveying systems, multi-axis machines, robotic welding arms, and hydraulic lifts.
- In the I-75 corridor, Industrial Machinery Mechanics earn a median hourly wage of over $20.00 and typically require a postsecondary non-degree award1
- However, even with competitive wages, there are a minimal number of qualified candidates to adequately fill these open employment opportunities.
Click HERE to download the LIFT/NIMS Special Report.
About the Partners:
NIMS:
The National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) is the developer of quality competency-based skills standards and credentials for jobs in manufacturing and related industries. Through these efforts, NIMS helps build and maintain a globally competitive workforce.
Click HERE to download the NIMS Industrial Technology Maintenance standards.
For more information, please visit:
www.nims-skills.org
Or
LIFT:
Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow (LIFT) is part of the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation and serves as the nation’s essential bridge between basic research and final product commercialization for lightweight metals. The Institute’s world-class facilities and technology development capabilities provide the “right” solutions for the nation’s defense and commercial transportation sectors to promote American competitiveness, energy efficiency, defense readiness, and economic growth.
For more information, please visit:
www.lift.technology
Ivy Tech Community College:
Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana’s largest public postsecondary institution and the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college system serving nearly 200,000 students annually. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana. It serves as the state’s engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its communities. In addition, its courses and programs transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association.
For more information, please visit:
www.ivytech.edu
