May 01, 2025 by Cara Pattison, SME MI-WPC Program Manager The manufacturing industry is at a crossroads. As technology advances and experienced workers retire, the demand for skilled talent has never been higher. But instead of waiting for the workforce to show up, SME is building it—step by step, school by school, and hire by hire. It all starts in high school with SME PRIME (Partnership Response In Manufacturing Education). PRIME flips the script on traditional education by bringing hands-on manufacturing training directly into the classroom. Students don’t just learn about careers—they experience them. With industry-grade equipment, cutting-edge curriculum in welding, metrology, CAD/CAM, and automation, and real connections to local employers, PRIME schools become powerful talent engines. Many students even earn industry-recognized certifications before they graduate. In some regions, career exploration begins as early as middle school—planting the seed for a future in high-tech, high-wage manufacturing careers. But the pipeline doesn’t stop at graduation. SME’s Manufacturing Imperative – Workforce Pipeline Challenge (MI-WPC) is a national movement spanning 25 community colleges across 17 states. The goal? Recruit, train, and place 75,000 individuals into manufacturing jobs over three years. Through credit, non-credit, and dual enrollment programs, colleges are reshaping what it means to prepare for a manufacturing career—especially for adult learners, career switchers, and underserved communities. It’s workforce development with purpose, driven by partnerships between educators and local employers to co-design training that’s relevant, accessible, and ready to go to work. Once talent is trained, it’s time to get them hired—and that’s where SME Ready to Hire comes in. Developed with Cengage Learning, this program offers a fast, flexible hiring solution that delivers candidates who are trained to your specific job descriptions. Think of it as skills-based staffing—with a 90-day retention guarantee. Whether you’re hiring Gen Z talent or career changers, Ready to Hire helps manufacturers fill roles faster, with less risk, and more confidence. Hiring is only the beginning. Keeping new employees engaged through their critical first 90 days is essential, and SME’s Mainstay Engagement Platform makes that easy. This AI-powered, text-based tool acts like a virtual coach, offering new hires support, nudges, and real-time feedback—helping reduce ghosting and improve retention. It’s like having a human resource assistant in everyone’s pocket. Finally, SME’s Corporate Training solutions make sure employees don’t just stay—they grow. With more than 600 modules through Tooling U–SME, companies can train in CNC machining, robotics, lean, safety, and more. Programs are fully customizable and available online, in-person, or hybrid. Whether you’re onboarding new hires, cross-training your team, or preparing for new tech, SME’s training is built to move your workforce forward. From the first spark of interest in high school to advanced technical training on the shop floor, SME’s workforce solutions are designed to work together—building the future of manufacturing, one student, one hire, one company at a time.
