We Can Solve the Skilled Manufacturing Worker Shortage

We Can Solve the Skilled Manufacturing Worker Shortage

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT
Apprenticeship, CNC Machining, CNC Programming, Machining, Manufacturing, Soft Skills, Worker Shortage

Over the last 5 years, I have been observing the manufacturing industry worker shortage. The drastic change that I have seen over my 24-year career is alarming. While most industries change over time, I believe the changes that are happening to manufacturing are more than that. We are in a worker shortage crisis.

Cardinal Manufacturing Open House Event

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

Cardinal Manufacturing is a student-run business in the Eleva-Strum High School. In a student-run business the students are responsible for all aspects of the business. It is a custom job shop that makes manufactures parts for community members and people throughout the country.

They are having an open house event on May 8th, 2024, from 4pm to 9pm. Come checkout what makes this program so great!

Endmills

Endmills

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT
CNC Machining, Machining, Machinist, Manufacturing

An endmill is a cutting tool that is typically used in a milling machine, or a mill/turn machine. They come in various diameters and lengths, to suit the needs of the user and the application. With that, they typically come in variations with 2-flutes, 3-flutes and 4 flutes. A 2-flute and 3-flute endmill is typically used in cutting aluminum. The 4-flute version is used in milling steel. The versions with 5 to 12 flutes are used in finish cutting steel.

Communicate, Collaborate, Connect, on a Consistent Basis

Communicate, Collaborate, Connect, on a Consistent Basis

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT
Manufacturing, Worker Shortage

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.

CNC Macro Programming Basics

CNC Macro Programming Basics

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT
CNC Machining, CNC Programming, Machining, Manufacturing Engineer, Manufacturing Engineers

We will cover the basics of Parameter programming. The concepts learned can be applied to many CNC projects and can be used in small shops and large shops alike. In G Code, macro programming variables are assigned values and when they are referenced and called they provide the last value that they were assigned. Some ways that variables can be used are for machining part families and for modifying work offsets and tooling offsets.

What to Do When a Client Rejects Your Parts

What to Do When a Client Rejects Your Parts

Paul Van Metre
CNC Machining, CNC Programming, Machining, Machinist, Manufacturing, Manufacturing Engineer, Manufacturing Engineers, Professional Engineer, toolmaker

Your company tries SO hard to make everything perfect, but occasionally, something slips through the cracks, and you send some parts to a customer that get rejected. It’s not a fun situation, and it can be like a gut punch, depending on how expensive the mistake is. How you handle it from the customer’s perspective can make all the difference and even potentially turn a bad situation into a positive experience. Customers know that mistakes will happen, but how a vendor responds to them can put your relationship on the chopping block, or solidify your position in the partner category.

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