3Degrees Discussions #64 - 3Degrees AMx - Advanced Manufacturing Experience

Today we have a special episode featuring students from the inaugural 3Degrees AMx – Advanced Manufacturing Experience. Working with local community group West Side Forward, this course aimed to bring the excitement and opportunity of jobs in the advanced manufacturing sector to underserved communities. The 3D Printing industry has grown up to 30% over the past five years, adding thousands of new-collar jobs to the American workforce. Yet just because the additive manufacturing industry has jobs, it doesn’t mean there isn’t difficulty filling them. New collar positions, like the ones created by industrial 3D Printing, value technical skills over college degrees— something difficult to find in today’s workforce. 3Degrees is working to solve this problem. I’ve seen this first-hand as an entrepreneur running two companies that help large manufacturing organizations (e.g., government, aerospace, automotive) implement 3D Printing technology. My clients tell me time and again that they have well-paying, benefit-eligible jobs that they cannot fill. It seems the US has forgotten how to train its workforce for today’s jobs that do not require a college degree.” “On the flip side, access to finding jobs in this industry is not straight forward. Most of these companies are small (100 employees) and unless you have some network or understanding of the industry you may not know what’s happening in the white, non-descript, windowless buildings on the side of the highway.’ The pilot course was a combination of in person instruction, tours of leading 3D Printing facilities like Renishaw, Impossible Objects, and mHub as well as mentors from across the industry (Siemens Energy, EOS, Desktop Metal, Met-l-Flo, Dyndrite, Forecast3D). Throughout the duration of the course, the class got to trial different technologies and design their own parts using the Future of Jewelry online software. Students had the opportunity to receive the Certified Manufacturing Technologist (CMfgT) certification from the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and America Makes upon completing the course. The program culminated with a guided tour of North America’s largest 3D Printing trade show Rapid. Before we get started head over to www.3degreescompany.com and subscribe to the podcast. Remember you can listen to the show anywhere you download your podcasts including Spotify, Apple, Amazon, or Stitcher