From Classroom to Career: The Talent Pipeline Manufacturing Needs, 524
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Why is the skills gap in manufacturing still a major concern?
Your son graduated from college this past weekend. He
did.
Congratulations on that.
How did Northridge High School build a successful machining program from scratch?
Yeah, thank you. Yeah, we got the youngest one is done. So, yeah, I toasted my wife and I toasted on the back porch that we got him out of school and on into their careers. And I don't
know what's next now.
What role do industry partnerships play in creating a talent pipeline?
So, well, that is quite a milestone. Yeah. And can you share what he's going to go do or is that top secret?
Well, he is going into manufacturing. I'm going to let him announce what he's doing because it is pretty cool.
Why are hands‑on experiences and early exposure critical for students?
Okay.
He's not coming to work for Hill and maybe by this time, by the time this comes out, he'll have already, you know, made that public, but. I'll save that one for him, but I'm very excited for him. He, he came to me back in, uh, I guess it was around Christmas break and had indicated like he wanted to go into manufacturing, but he didn't want to just come work for dad. You know, he wanted to kind of go do his own thing and learn his own stuff and build his own relationships.
How does JD Machine’s apprenticeship model support career growth?
So I made some introductions and think he landed on a really great opportunity.
So.
Yes, I know it, of course. And I thought there was a way we could tie it into this conversation. I would love to.
What soft‑skill and mentorship strategies help turn interns into hires?
We're going to wait. We're going to wait.
If the sound of a machine tool removing metal gets your blood pumping, then you are Metalworking Nation. This is Making Chips, where we talk all things metalworking, engineering and design, production and tooling combined with business best practices, technology, marketing, news, and new media for manufacturing professionals. Here are your hosts.
How can other shops replicate this high‑school‑to‑workforce partnership?
Let's make some chips.
We are continuing our GenCNC series today. And rather than featuring a shop owner, we are featuring an educational institution and a shop that are just have a great partnership, a great relationship. And it's just really fruitful for having a high demand of students that want to learn machining and then great careers going right into a really excellent shop. So
What are the biggest challenges and future opportunities for workforce development?
That's what we're doing here today. So we got Matt Wardle, who's been on the show a couple times, and Kurt Jensen. So welcome, gentlemen. Thank you. Thanks. Good to be here. Absolutely. You know, here at Making Chips, we often talk about shop owners. Well, I know I talk about shop owners being heroes. And, you know, that includes you, Mike, and you, Matt. My cape's hanging up on the door. But I think even more heroic than that is someone that dedicates their career to teaching young people the machining trade. And so, Kurt, I've just heard nothing but incredible things about your program. And just want to say a huge thank you from everyone at the Metalworking Nation for what you do to... educate the next generation and get them into this amazing trade that needs way more people than we have today.
Um, but you're doing more than your fair share. It sounds like,
well, I appreciate that. It's I, I feel pretty lucky. It's a pretty fun job. I get to do a lot of cool stuff and yeah, it's the best part of seeing kids get excited about machining and getting out into the workforce. So
yeah, absolutely. Well, let's start with just some intros. For those that haven't or don't remember Matt from JD Machine, why don't you give us a little bit of your background and your shop, and then we'll do the same thing with Kurt. Great. Thanks, Paul.
And Mike, appreciate you having me back, especially talking about workforce. It's something that... I love and it's been a big part of my career from almost the get go. But we're a second going on third generation advanced manufacturer in Ogden, Utah. We currently employ about 230 team members and it's really been an amazing ride. When I took over from my dad, we had about four employees. And very early on, I had a fellow join our shop that had worked in a one-man shop with a German immigrant, and he had started him on an apprenticeship. And this team member's name was Renny Stott, and he said, Hey, Matt, I'd really like to finish this apprenticeship. And I said, I remember thinking at the time I was really tired of people coming to me saying, hey, I need a raise.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
Why is the skills gap in manufacturing still a major concern?
0:00–0:03
2
How did Northridge High School build a successful machining program from scratch?
0:03–0:16
3
What role do industry partnerships play in creating a talent pipeline?
0:16–0:27
4
Why are hands‑on experiences and early exposure critical for students?
0:27–0:52
5
How does JD Machine’s apprenticeship model support career growth?
0:52–1:03
6
What soft‑skill and mentorship strategies help turn interns into hires?
1:03–1:40
7
How can other shops replicate this high‑school‑to‑workforce partnership?
1:40–2:08
8
What are the biggest challenges and future opportunities for workforce development?
2:08–1:09:52
Speakers
1 identifiedMore from Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders
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