August 29, 2025 by Paul Aiello, Executive Director of the CERT Education Group, FANUC America Manufacturing leaders agree that solving the skilled labor shortage long term hinges on introducing the next generation to the industry at a young age and inspiring their passion for engineering and technical careers. One of the best examples of this strategy in action was showcased in an SME Insights discussion in the Mission Critical Experience at RAPID + TCT, where Rob Luce, Vice President of the SME Education Foundation, and Paul Aiello, Executive Director of Education at FANUC America, spoke about their organizations’ powerful partnership. Their conversation wasn't just about collaboration; it was about a shared vision for empowering aspiring manufacturing leaders to meet the demands of modern industry. FANUC has grown into a global leader in robotics and CNC machine tools. While its history is steeped in technological innovation, FANUC’s contemporary narrative is increasingly defined by its profound commitment to nurturing the talent pipeline essential for the advanced manufacturing sector. For FANUC, this commitment has been a long-standing mission. Paul Aiello explained the longevity of their education programs, stating, “We have partnered with education proactively for the last 15 years, putting industrial robots directly in the classroom to create experiences for students at every level—from high schools to community colleges to universities—to align the technology that's being employed and deployed into industry with education so that students are learning on the exact same equipment today, and what's emerging, and have that real-life experience.” This dedication has resulted in a network of more than 1,650 schools across North America. Aiello was clear that this investment isn't just a charitable act—it's a strategic effort to build a stronger industry. “FANUC is truly committed to education. Our goal was to help develop a talented pipeline of individuals, job seekers, students, closer to the employers,” he said. This strategy also aims to inspire a new generation “about the exciting and rewarding careers in automation, in robotics, and CNC. It's fun. It's exciting." The impact of these programs is, by all accounts, tremendous, with Aiello sharing a compelling statistic: “We estimate that by the end of this summer, we will have created over a million student experiences in the last 15 years—so changing lives.” A key part of FANUC’s strategy is a massive in-kind contribution to its partner schools. Aiello confirmed that for every single school, there is “about a $330,000 gift in kind that goes with that.” This isn't just a robot; it's a complete ecosystem of learning. The package includes instructor training, certifications, gifted curriculum, e-learning modules, and simulation software. This comprehensive investment reflects FANUC’s understanding that deploying advanced technology is only half the solution; the other, equally critical, half is cultivating the skilled human capital necessary to operate, maintain, and innovate with that technology. As Rob Luce aptly put it, “I think if more companies put their money where their mouth was like FANUC does, we probably wouldn't have as much of a workforce issue in the manufacturing space.” The importance of this experiential learning cannot be overstated. Aiello champions the use of real, industrial-grade equipment in the classroom over academic tools. “Many times, equipment was installed in schools that claimed to align with industry needs but functioned only as academic tools,” he explained. “There is no reason the school cannot adapt real industrial technology for the classroom.” This emphasis on real technology stems from a fundamental belief: “The number one factor which determines a student's career path is not a teacher, or a parent, or a counselor, or a principal, it's the experiences that they have.” Working on a real machine offers an unparalleled learning experience. It exposes students to the physical realities of operation, the nuances of programming, troubleshooting challenges unique to hardware, and the immediate consequences of their actions. Unlike simulators, which provide a controlled environment, real machines present the complexities and demands of an actual manufacturing setting. This hands-on, experiential learning cultivates a deeper understanding, builds practical proficiency, and instills a confidence that no purely simulated environment can replicate. This direct interaction with cutting-edge industrial technology ensures that graduates are theoretically aware and practically adept, ready to contribute meaningfully from day one. To further break down barriers to education, FANUC established the FANUC Automation Endowed Scholarship Fund in partnership with the SME Education Foundation. This groundbreaking initiative, representing the largest automation scholarship in the SME Education Foundation's history, aims to provide financial access for students nationwide to pursue careers in advanced manufacturing. Aiello explained the rationale behind the fund, saying, "We wanted to make sure that students all across the country had access and opportunity to go to school, to advance their skills, to increase their capability to enter into the workforce with talent. And that means that a lot of times we're going to have to go to an academic program that provides that. Sometimes it's cost. We didn't want cost to be a barrier." The scholarship fund is a testament to the collaborative spirit within the automation industry. FANUC, along with its authorized systems integrator network and education solution provider network, banded together to fund a million-dollar scholarship program. Rob Luce commended this inclusive approach, remarking, "I think it was a brilliant decision to not go it alone and bring in your authorized system integrators and your education service partners to ensure that it wasn't just FANUC corporate, but it was the entire FANUC community across the United States." The scholarship is designed for maximum impact, aiming to award at least 50 scholarships annually. As Aiello noted, it was important to go "beyond having a scholarship that awarded one or two students" to offer opportunities to a far greater number of aspiring professionals. The perception of manufacturing has dramatically shifted, partly thanks to initiatives like FANUC's. Aiello clarified the new reality: "For every robot system that's installed, the ecosystem of manufacturing swells with more talent. There's more needs out there in that these jobs are not the dark, dirty, dangerous or environmentally hazardous. We're putting automation in to solve those challenges, but we need people that understand how this technology works, how to deploy it, how to maintain it, and how to advance it." This new reality underscores the necessity for a highly skilled and technologically literate population of professionals. When asked what schools can do to better prepare graduates for the modern manufacturing industry, Aiello’s advice was clear and direct: "Add more technology, increase the opportunity to create experiences for students, and they should be real-world experiences." Rob Luce reinforced this, stating, "You have the most technologically advanced generation in the history of the world. And you have a manufacturing industry that is increasingly complex and technologically advanced. If you can marry the two together, that workforce shortage becomes history." Ultimately, the goal is to align the speed of education with the speed of business. Aiello summed it up perfectly: "Education, I always say, needs to move at the speed of business. Technology is evolving. The only way to do that is to partner with technology companies. Help them help guide the way these programs move and the speed at which they evolve." FANUC's unwavering dedication, substantial financial contributions, and strategic partnerships exemplify a model for industry leaders in addressing the critical need for skilled professionals in advanced manufacturing. By focusing on experiential learning with real industrial equipment and removing financial barriers through scholarships, FANUC is not just investing in education; it's actively shaping a brighter, more technologically advanced future for countless individuals and the entire manufacturing sector. To learn more, watch the full discussion here, or read the press release announcing the FANUC and SME Prime partnership.
