ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING is the magazine devoted to industrial applications of 3D printing and digital layering technology. We cover the promise and the challenges of this technology for making functional tooling and end-use production parts.
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MEMBER PROFILE CATEGORY: E Education SMARTFORCE mtadditive.com 37 At the Center of the Google Memo By Gregory Jones Vice President – Smartforce Development, AMT—The Association For Manufacturing Technology By now, you are probably familiar with the former Google employee James Da- more's memo on diversity in the work- force and the fallout of what was meant to be an internal Google document. Strip the divided politics aside from the national conversation that ensued because of the memo, and we are left with one very necessary central point of discus- sion about diversity in the workforce: jobs and the widening skills gap. Faced with a lack of qualified candidates for open positions, especially as it is impact- ing the manufacturing industry, we must be inclusive of every part of our potential workforce. According to a 2015 study by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute, while women make up 47 percent of the U.S. labor force, they repre- sent just 27 percent of the manufacturing workforce. The per- centage of women who have leadership roles in our industry is also less than in other industries. At the same time, we are failing as a nation in educating underserved and underrepresented communities in STEM- related subjects and in recruiting minorities to our industry in tangible numbers. While studying at college, black and Latino students represent fewer than 20 percent of those studying STEM courses, but according to the U.S. Depart- ment of Labor, minorities make up less than 5 percent of the STEM-based workforce. By some estimates, the skills gap could grow to a shortfall of two million workers by 2025 because of baby boomers retir- ing combined with increases in new products and innovations in technologies which can and will require us to re-tool educa- tion and training programs and methodologies. Now more than ever, it is imperative that we double down on the following solutions for our industry to remain competi- tive in recruiting the next-generation workforce: 1. Start early: Evidence demonstrates that students who are exposed to project-based learning early in their education are more inclined to continue a STEM pathway. Talk to your local education leaders and government officials about policy solutions that engage and inspire K-12 students, like Project Lead The Way ( pltw.org ). 2. Be a mentor: Volunteer in your local robotics program or start a program if none exist in your community. Intern- ships and apprenticeship programs for post-secondary students are another way to find and train your next- gen workforce. Make sure that your company is using every education pathway possible for recruitment. 3. Participate in outreach programs that open your doors to your community: Host a Manufacturing Day event at your facility; consider an open house or tours. Find out more at mfgday.com . MFG Day occurs annually each October, but events can take place anytime. 4. Support organizations which advocate for underrepre- sented communities: Encourage your staff to join and become better acquainted with Women in Manufacturing ( www.womeninmanufacturing.org ), the Manufacturing Continued on page 40