A new workforce development program engineered by Siemens aims to provide high school students and educators across the country the knowledge to jumpstart their manufacturing career.
The Lifelong Educational Advantage Program, or L.E.A.P., offers instructional content, training and partnerships with machine tool builders to give students an advanced understanding in the areas of milling and turning with the overall goal of boosting the skilled manufacturing labor market.
“Currently, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) jobs are growing at 1.7 times the rate of non-STEM jobs,” explained Brian Hamilton, CNC education manager, Siemens Industry Inc., in a statement. “Employers need graduates who are more than basic machine operators for basic parts cutting. Siemens CNC instruction best supports this career path from basic to advanced knowledge.”
Although the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates a decline in manufacturing between 2012 and 2022, job openings for skilled labor will be on the rise as workers retire. Recent BLS data indicates that manufacturing workers earn more than workers in other industries.
Through L.E.A.P, educators and students will have access to basic-through-advanced CNC learning through a PC-based training system, modular content customized to curriculum, hardware simulators and free instruction training and support.
In partnership with machine tool builders such as EMCO, ROMI, INDEX, KNUTH and others, Siemens addresses the need for skilled manufacturing labor by preparing students for a career in the job shop or production department environments, according to the company.
Each of the course disciplines is divided into levels that provide a pre-requisite approach for basic-to-advanced learning. Students will utilize the company’s PC-based simulation software to enhance the hands-on learning experience.
Interested U.S. technical schools can partner with the company through its Siemens Cooperates with Education (SCE) program.
Once an educational institution is enrolled in the SCE program, a site assessment will determine which L.E.A.P. program best fits the participating school needs.