Machining.Blog® is a weekly blog focused on manufacturing career development. It features blog articles on the fundamentals of manufacturing for aspiring machinists. Our goal is to create an interest in manufacturing in the USA. Our writer Matthew Schowalter has worked in manufacturing for 24 years, and he covers the topics that matter to someone starting their career in manufacturing.
“The soft skills the machinist uses are the unseen tools in their box and can directly impact the success or failure of a dreamed after machining career.”
All tagged Manufacturing Worker Shortage
Since 2015, I have closely observed the manufacturing industry’s ongoing struggle with employment shortages. Despite numerous programs designed to address this issue, most operate at a level that is too broad, missing the specific needs of local communities. I believe the solution lies in fostering simple, direct communication and collaboration at the local level, led by industry champions who can empower stakeholders to take meaningful action.
Debunking common misconceptions about the trade.
Machining is one of those trades that often sits in the shadows of public awareness, until you need a precision part, a custom prototype, or a component that simply must work. Yet, despite its critical role in manufacturing, machining is surrounded by myths that can distort how people view the profession. These misconceptions can discourage new talent, mislead customers, and even slow innovation.
In today’s competitive job market, more people are looking for careers that offer stability, good pay, and room to grow. Modern manufacturing is a high-tech, fast-evolving field that plays a critical role in the global economy. If you're weighing your options, here’s why manufacturing is a smart career choice.
In my twenty-four years of manufacturing experience, I have discovered that manufacturing can be a great industry to work in. I started as a youth apprentice in machining and then served a registered apprenticeship as a Tool and Die Maker. Over the course of my time spent in manufacturing, I was a team leader and a manufacturing engineer.
If you work in the Manufacturing Industry chances are you have seen firsthand how the skilled manufacturing worker shortage affects your job. When there are more people retiring and less new people coming into the field, it can have negative effects on the industry. I have looked into the worker shortage crisis since 2015, and I came up with a phrase to help fix the shortage, “We Must Communicate, Collaborate, Connect, on a Consistent Basis”. I call it the 4-Cs of manufacturing.
