Smartforce

A strong, skilled workforce is key to reshoring and manufacturing growth. This new series explores the careers of manufacturing leaders.

As today’s youth shows an increasing interest in skilled trade and technical careers, the Smartforce Student Summit at IMTS 2024 is an immersive experience designed to inspire students to seek a career pathway in manufacturing.

Wisconsin's Fab Lab Grant Program funds school districts to purchase advanced manufacturing technology. Since 2015, it has provided $4.5 million to 118 districts.

For a view of the STEM classroom of the future  and to learn about careers available today,  educators, school administrators, students, and parents can visit the Smartforce Student Summit at IMTS 2024, which runs Sept. 9-14 at Chicago’s McCormick Place.

A small manufacturer in North Carolina doesn’t have a labor shortage problem because it taps into an often-overlooked workforce: the visually impaired. Learn how IFB Solutions trains and employs people who are blind for manufacturing and assembly work.

Today’s manufacturing technology makes it easier for companies to hire more people with disabilities, a talent pool of more than 10.7 million people. Learn how GenMet reduced barriers for people in wheelchairs and with intellectual disabilities.

As someone who has spent 47 years working in manufacturing technology, I experienced firsthand, as you likely have, our industry’s impact on the prosperity of individuals and our local communities. I’m grateful AMT and IMTS...

It’s play time! FIRST Robotics teams from Milwaukee-area high schools teamed up to adapt toys for kids with disabilities. Using the technical skills developed in FIRST Robotics, the teens are making play time accessible for all.

To help celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, AMT and IMTS are shining the spotlight on three equipment manufacturers training the workforce of the future through their apprenticeship programs: Okuma, Schunk, and United Grinding.

In addition to building competition robots, students on the FIRST Penn Robotics team are also dedicated to crafting adaptive technology to help children with disabilities like this Hulk costume for a boy with a wheelchair.